The Waitakere Ranges will remain open, but multiple tracks will be closed after Auckland Council voted on a range of options to prevent the spread of kauri dieback in the ranges today. The iwi called on Auckland Council at the time to establish a biosecurity Controlled Area. AUCKLAND COUNCIL CONSULTATION ON WAITĀKERE RANGES CLOSURE. The Ministry for Primary Industries also issued strict cleaning and monitoring guidelines … PRESS RELEASE: for immediate release Tuesday 13 March 2018. Waitākere Ranges Closure. Provides the highest level of kauri protection for the Waitākere Ranges. Auckland Council voted on 10 April to close the forested area of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, with some exceptions, by … On 1 May, the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, and 10 higher-risk tracks in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park, were closed to protect trees from kauri dieback disease and prevent its … Auckland Council will this week make its final decision on vital measures to protect kauri in the Auckland region. In December, Council opted to close all high and medium risk tracks in the ranges, after surveys of the forest found the rate of dieback disease had doubled in the past five years. A sign for the rāhui seen heading towards Piha. Increasing anger over Waitakere track closures Waitakere Ranges residents say banning people from walking tracks to stop the spread of kauri dieback is back-firing. To find out about track closures or express your views, please contact the land owner or manager. The closure of most of the Waitākere forest and 10 tracks in the Hunua Ranges will be enforced from today and is part of major efforts to slow a disease killing kauri. Waitakere Ranges, one of Aucklands popular trekking spots, is now the country's most Kauri dieback affected area. Auckland Council are currently seeking community feedback on their proposal to close the forested area of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, with some exceptions, by 1 May 2018. There are Controlled Area Notices in place on certain open tracks in the Waitākere Ranges, in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve, and parts of the Hunua Ranges. Proposal to close the forested area of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, with some exceptions, by 1 May 2018 for example tracks/areas which would reach the requirement of a controlled area notice (expected to be introduced by the Ministry for Primary Industries). They say absence of human footprints has led to a resurgence in wild pig numbers – which are more likely to spread the disease than boot-washing trampers. An Auckland City Councillor says it's sad people aren't adhering to a rāhui to stay away from Auckland's Waitākere Ranges - but she doesn't think a closure would be more effective. A number of environmental groups had been lobbying for a total closure of the park and iwi Te Kawerau o Maki put a rahui (a form of tapu restricting access) on the ranges on December 2. More than 30 tracks in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park have now closed and more are set to follow as Auckland Council steps up efforts to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease. What is happening with the Waitākere Ranges and Hunua Ranges regional park closures? In an effort to combat the devastating spread of kauri dieback, Auckland Council has voted through the plan to close the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, with some exceptions outside the forested area.

The Auckland Council will instead look to enforce a targeted closure of high-risk and medium-risk tracks as well as enhancing tracks to reduce the risk of contamination, which is primarily caused by people trekking through the forest. The survival of native kauri in the Waitākere ranges … The Waitākere Ranges are already subject to a rāhui (customary closure) established four months ago by local iwi, Te Kawerau ā Maki. The move comes after a rāhui (or ban) was placed on areas of the popular walking and hiking region by local iwi Te Kawerau-a-Maki with little results. The forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park are closed from 1 May 2018, with some exceptions. The Auckland Council and Local iwi are considering closing the Waitākere Ranges to the public following a report which shows the number of native Kauri affected by the Kauri dieback disease which has more than doubled in five years. Tuesday, 1 May 2018, 5:38 pm | Te Kawerau a Maki. Council set to decide on Waitākere Ranges closure. Track closures in the Waitākere Ranges Track closures in the Waitākere Ranges The forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges have been closed to manage the impact of kauri dieback. In an effort to combat the devastating spread of kauri dieback, Auckland Council has voted through the plan to close the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, with some exceptions outside the forested area.