TMBC supports stronger action to protect iconic kauri
Many of our members were closely involved in consultation rounds in late 2018/early 2019 to find ways to ‘accelerate protection for kauri’.
These resulted in a proposal to accelerate protection by establishing a National Kauri Dieback Pest Management Plan (NPMP) and new independent management agency to implement this.
The independent lead and independent panel for this kaupapa issued a joint statement earlier this month, you can read it here. This identifies the need for urgent funding to achieve stronger protection for kauri.
The Environment Select Committee has also released its report on kauri dieback, which recognises that ‘… a National Pest Management Plan, and a new management agency, will provide a solid basis for future action’.
TMBC members are actively engaged in the protection of kauri. TMBC has contributed to this through a joint campaign at the end of last year to raise local awareness of how to protect kauri (see the video above, developed by TMBC) and Mana Taiao Biosecurity Wānanga, which took our tamariki/ local school children into kauri forests to learn about kaitiakitanga and protecting kauri.
Kauri is iconic – a symbol of the country and an important part of the Bay of Plenty. Kauri is a taonga and part of whakapapa and cultural identity for Tauranga Moana iwi and hapū.
Click here for the story printed in the Bay of Plenty Times on 12 July about TMBC’s support for stronger protection.