News

New myrtle rust stakeholder group

October 14, 2019

A new Myrtle Rust Stakeholder Group is being formed to ensure priority actions in the new Myrtle Rust Strategy 2019-2023 are implemented. Membership will include government agencies, regional councils, Māori, Project Crimson, botanical gardens, New Zealand’s Biological Heritage Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho, forestry and plant industry associations, and a representative of the Myrtle Rust Strategic Science Advisory Group. The new group will meet for the first time in November.

Taking action on essential infrastructure

October 13, 2019

The need for well-resourced seedbank facilities and an accessible data system were the focus of two workshops at the recent Myrtle Rust Science Symposium. 

Good progress was made on both issues, says Myrtle Rust Strategic Science Advisory Group Chair Ken Hughey, including identifying what we have, what we need, and how to close the gap.

New knowledge and practical insights in MPI-funded research

October 11, 2019

The MPI-funded research reports have been finalised and are being published on the myrtle rust website, providing new knowledge and practical insights to help manage the disease in New Zealand. MPI Science Policy Manager Naomi Parker says the first tranche of reports to be published include surveillance and monitoring myrtle rust in New Zealand, and research into controlling the disease, including pilot trials of fungicides.

Research looks for answers to kauri dieback and myrtle rust

October 11, 2019

A University of Canterbury engineer has received an $800,000 Rutherford Discovery Fellowship to accelerate research into saving native trees from fungal pathogens. Using a lab-on-a-chip approach, Dr Nock will receive funding for the next five years to better understand how plant diseases such as kauri dieback and myrtle rust (which threatens pohutukawa, rata and manuka) target and invade their hosts.

Preparing our trees' defences against myrtle rust

September 24, 2019

Scientists are currently investigating how the pathogen is reproducing around Aotearoa. Researcher Dr Michael Bartlett (pictured) says we need to better understand the way myrtle rust  (Austropuccinia psidii) is reproducing in order to predict how the pathogen will adapt to the New Zealand environment.

Symposium focused on combating myrtle rust

September 19, 2019

The recent Myrtle Rust Science Symposium discussed solutions to battle the invasive rust disease which is attacking iconic species such as pōhutukawa and ramarama, and heard how myrtle rust has wiped out species from some areas across the Tasman.

NZ's Biological Heritage Challenge: Priority research investment - Māori-led research

August 31, 2019

Ngā Rākau Taketake: Social-ecological systems are a crucial element in the long-term preservation of our taonga species and ecosystems, so our aim is to build on existing relationships and research to develop expertise in this space.

NZ's Biological Heritage Challenge: Priority research investment - Surveillance

August 31, 2019

In order to know the full effect of kauri dieback and myrtle rust we must closely observe them as they move throughout our towns and forest. We need to empower communities to map and monitor these foreign pathogens and their impacts, using an overarching surveillance framework.

A guide to BioHeritage scoping groups

August 31, 2019

A guide to BioHeritage scoping groups - what they do, why we need them, why it's taking so long.

Science Symposium will focus on safeguarding precious myrtles

August 6, 2019

The 2019 Myrtle Rust Science Symposium in Auckland on 9 and 10 September, will bring together organisations passionate about safeguarding and sustaining New Zealand's precious myrtles for future generations.

The media release includes an "Answers to questions" section on the symposium and the Myrtle rust science plan.