New Zealand’s kauri tree is the second largest tree species on the planet. But its days could be numbered.
Many kauri are affected by kauri dieback disease, which spreads in the soil and kills trees of all ages. The disease is highly contagious and so far the only treatment is prevention.
Since Kauri dieback was formally discovered about four years ago, the New Zealand government has spent just $5 million trying to solve the problem.
Compare this with $85 million spent saving pine trees from the painted apple moth and $50 million spent on PSA for the kiwifruit industry.
Maybe kauri aren’t considered to have commercial worth? And yet visiting Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest is one of New Zealand’s top tourism experiences. Nobody will want to visit a rotting stump.
Soar Printing sponsors the Kauri Dieback programme because we know the importance of kauri trees to New Zealand’s national identity, and because we’re fully committed to the protection of native forests. The paper we use is always sourced from responsibly-managed plantations.
I urge you to ‘like’ Kauri Dieback Programme on Facebook. Go to https://www.facebook.com/TheKauriDiebackManagementProgramme?ref=stream&hc_location=stream
And find out more by watching this clip on Maori TV http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/native-affairs-great-loss
By Jenny Carter, Soar Printing
