Proposal to close tracks to protect kauri: Consultations 2018

Te Matua Ngahere kauri

Image: Dubh | Creative Commons

Introduction

DOC is closing various tracks in the kauri region to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease. Submissions closed 10 August 2018.

In 2014, the Government provided DOC with funding to manage the human spread of kauri dieback on tracks on public conservation land. This resulted in the Kauri Dieback Recreation Project. As there is currently no proven cure or treatment for kauri dieback, we can only save kauri by stopping the disease from spreading. To achieve this, the Project has taken the following approach:

Upgrading tracks to protect kauri roots and eliminate wet and muddy sections
Developing and installing cleaning stations
Introducing initiatives to change people’s behaviour, as the evidence shows that people are the main vector for the disease
Closing tracks

Track closures

DOC is closing 21 tracks across kauri land to prevent the spread of kauri dieback. 10 tracks will also be partially closed and upgraded to protect kauri roots and eliminate wet and muddy sections of track.

The track closures are permanent, however a track closure may be reconsidered in the future should information become available that would ensure public access would not cause any risk to kauri.

The 10 partially closed tracks will be upgraded to protect kauri roots and to eliminate wet and muddy sections – ensuring visitors don’t accidently spread the disease by moving soil around with them. Sections of these tracks will be permanently closed.

The decision to close tracks was not taken lightly, and was considered in situations where there is:

high kauri dieback risk
low visitor use
high upgrade and ongoing maintenance costs
a similar experience provided in the vicinity.

This decision was made after a lengthy and public consultation process and the majority of public submissions favoured closing the tracks.

Email queries to kauridieback@doc.govt.nz

Note: This is not a definitive list of all track closures due to kauri dieback. Check track pages for the latest kauri dieback alerts and status.

Track closures as decided from 2018 consultation
District office	Track	Final decision	Partial closure details	Rationale
Great Barrier Island	Whangaparapara Pack Track/Link Track	Full closure from 31 January 2018		Kauri protection - large numbers of kauri. Track is within 4000m of positive site. Track is already closed due to a slip. Historic values are low - there are better historic experiences available. There are alternative tracks available in the vicinity.
Great Barrier Island	Whangaparapara Peak Track	Full closure from 31 January 2019		Kauri protection - large numbers of kauri. Steep climb with not much of a view. Track traverses across kauri roots.
Great Barrier Island	Old Lady Walk	Partial closure from 31 January	Close track from the lookout on the loop section down to the main track. Upgrade the remaining section of track.	Kauri protection - the closed section of track protects large numbers of kauri. The track to the lookout is still retained.
Hauraki	Booms - Orange Peel Corner Track	Partial closure from November 2018	Close track from the Whangaiterenga to Booms Track intersection down to Kauaeranga Road. Upgrade track from the Wainora Tramping Track intersection down to the Whangaiterenga to Booms Track intersection.	Kauri protection. There are two track options and we are proposing using the Whangaiterenga to Booms track as it has no kauri on it. Access to Crosbies Hut is still retained.
Hauraki	Hihi Trig to Kopu Hikuai Road Summit Track	Partial closure from November 2018	Close track past the Kaitarahihi Summit to the Hihi-Kopu Hikuai/Paton Stream Junction. Upgrade track from the entrance on Kopu Road to the Kaitarahihi Summit.	Partial closure of this track protects kauri while still retaining the experience to the summit.
Hauraki	Devcich Kauri Track	Full closure from October 2018		Short off-shoot track with a large kauri that is half-dead and rotting.
Hauraki	Hihi Stream to Motutapere Tt	Full closure from October 2018		Kauri protection - ancient kauri stands. Very wet and muddy Alternative available via the Billy Goat track.
Hauraki	Waipaheke Motorbike Track	Full closure from November 2018		Kauri protection High upgrade cost versus low visitor use.
Hauraki	Lynch Stream Tramping Track	Partial closure from October 2018	Close track from the Whenuakite Loop Track intersection to the beach. Retain section of track along the beach.	Kauri protection - dense kauri stands. High risk - kauri dieback has been positively identified nearby.
Hauraki	Maratoto 4x4 Road & Extreme Loop	Partial closure from November 2018	Close the northern section of the extreme loop. Upgrade track from the end of Wires Road to Wentworth Falls Walk.	Kauri protection. A motorised recreation opportunity is still retained.
Hauraki	Moss Creek Camp-Pinnacles Hut/Hydro Camp Jn	Partial closure from November 2018	Close track from the Rangihau Track intersection to Moss Creek Camp intersection. Upgrade track from the Rangihau Track intersection to the Hydro Camp to Pinnacles Hut track intersection.	Kauri protection. High cost to upgrade the whole track due to the extremely wet and muddy sections. Access to the Pinnacles Hut is still retained.
Hauraki	Twin Kauri Short Walk	Partial closure frm October 2018	Close track after the twin kauri trees. Upgrade track to the twin kauri trees.	Kauri protection. The experience of the twin kauri trees is retained.
Hauraki	Wainora Tramping Track	Partial closure from October 2018	Close track from the Booms-Orange Peel Corner Track intersection to the Wainora Kauri Grove / Cookson Kauri Walk. Upgrade track from the Karaka TT intersection to the Booms-Orange Peel Corner Track intersection.	Kauri protection. Alternative tracks to Crosbie Hut are available. High cost to upgrade the whole track due to the wet and muddy sections.
Hauraki	Wharekirauponga Walk	Partial closure from November 2018	Close track from the suspension bridge back to the loop junction. Upgrade track from the entrance to the junction with the loop, then continue on the northern part of the loop to the suspension bridge.	Kauri protection. The experience of the waterfall and historic sites are retained.
Kaitaia	Kauri Bush Track	Full closure from 6 November 2018		Kauri protection - the most northern stand of kauri. High upgrade cost versus low visitor use. Alternative tracks are available in the vicinity.
Kauri Coast	Hukatere Track	Full closure from 30 November 2018		Kauri protection. High upgrade cost versus low visitor use.
Kauri Coast	Lookout Track	Full closure from 30 November 2018		Kauri protection. High risk vector site - symptomatic kauri and confirmed kauri dieback within 1km. An alternative track to the Lookout is being built so the experience is retained.
Kauri Coast	Toatoa Track	Full closure from 30 November 2018		Kauri protection. High upgrade cost versus low visitor use.
Kauri Coast	Tutamoe Track	Full closure from 30 November 2018		Kauri protection. Low visitor use. Alternative tracks are available in the District.
Tauranga	Bluff Stream Kauri to Waitengaue Hut Track	Full closure from 28 November 2018		Kauri protection.
Tauranga	Bluff Stream Kauri Track	Full closure from 26 November 2018		Kauri protection. A realignment option was investigated but unsuccessful due to the challenging topography and inability to avoid kauri. Track has land tenure complications as it traverses private land.
Tauranga	Cashmores Clearing Track	Full closure from 23 November 2018		Kauri protection. No longer has the original destination of the Cashmores hut. There are alternative tracks available.
Tauranga	Mangakino Stream Track (Dicky Track-County Rd)	Full closure from 22 November 2018		Kauri protection. Link track with no specific destination. Alternative tracks available in the vicinity.
Tauranga	Wairoa Stream Track	Full closure from 20 November 2018		Kauri protection. Alternative tracks available.
Tauranga	Te Rereatukahia Hut Track	Partial closure from 15 November 2018	Upgrade track from the Wharawhara Link Track intersection to the end of the track (Cashmores to Te Rereatukahia / Nth-Sth Track intersection). Close track from the entrance to the Wharawhara Link Track intersection.	Kauri protection - most dense kauri stand. A realignment option was investigated but was not viable. Access to the Te Rereatukahia hut is still available via alternative tracks.
Waikato	Kauri Route, Te Kauri Park	Full closure from 17 October 2018		Kauri protection - protection of the southernmost naturally accruing kauri grove. High upgrade cost versus low visitor use.
Whangārei	Bratty's Bush Track	Full closure from 5 November 2018		Kauri protection. High upgrade cost versus low visitor use.
Whangārei	Cullen Road – Massey Road	Full closure from 20 November 2018		This track is included for closure as it is the link track between the Langsview Track and Massey Road - SH1 Track which is being closed.
Whangārei	Massey Road to SH 1	Full closure from 20 November 2018		Kauri protection. Track does not follow the legal road alignment and sections are on private land. Track goes through a production forest and is closed regularly due to logging.
Whangārei	Pukemoremore - southern section of Russell	Full closure from January 2019		Kauri protection. High risk - infected forest. Track has been closed due to kauri dieback. Rāhui in place. Agreement reached with Te Araroa Trail to use an alternative route.
Whangārei	Te Ranga Trig - northern section of Russell	Full closure from January 2019		Kauri protection. High risk site - links to the infected Punaruku Valley which has a rāhui in place.

Proposal to close tracks to protect kauri

Introduction

Track closures

Related

Kauri dieback disease