WHAT IS KAURI DIEBACK?

Phytophthora agathidicida, the pathogen that causes kauri dieback disease, was only discovered in 2009, and formally named in 2015 (previously it was known as Phytophthora taxon Agathis). The pathogen can sense a kauri tree’s roots, and swim towards them using a tail-like flagella.

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There is no cure for kauri dieback disease, and the disease kills most if not all the kauri it infects. It can be spread by just a pinhead of soil, and although there are physical symptoms, you can't tell just by looking whether a tree is infected or not. Kauri dieback disease is threatening kauri with functional extinction. But kauri will be saved – by people like you.

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