Kauri dieback: More tracks in Waitākere Ranges to reopen
Two tracks in an Auckland regional park have reopened three years after a rahui was placed on the forest to thwart the spread of kauri dieback.
On Sunday the Omanawanui and Puriri Ridge tracks in the Waitakere Ranges opened to the public again.
Forested areas in West Auckland’s Waitākere Ranges and Hunua Ranges were closed off in 2018 to protect the trees from kauri dieback disease and prevent further spread.
This meant pedestrians could not access more than 100 tracks in Waitākere and more than 10 high-risk tracks in Hunua.
It is a “significant milestone” in the reopening of the Te Ara Tahura/Hillary Trail, Auckland Council said.
It will pave the way for people to hike from Karamatura Valley in Huia through to Anawhata, near Piha.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff said he was pleased to see the tracks reopen.
“Aucklanders and visitors love the Waitākere Ranges and West Auckland walking tracks,” Goff said.
“The tracks were closed to protect our iconic native kauri trees from dieback disease.”
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
-
52% Human-centred experience and communication
-
15.2% Critical thinking
-
29.9% Resilience and adaptability
-
2.9% Other - I will share below!
Loading…
