Kauri planting struggling to get established

Kauri are not a species that are generally considered to have historically grown in Hamilton gullies. We therefore do not routinely include kauri on our planting lists. However, there are a considerable number on the gully tops that residents have planted. With kauri die back devastating the northern kauri it is time to rethink the policy as regards planting kauri. An isolated grove as a potential future seed source may well be of value. The southern gully slope below Sovereign Isles was selected as a suitable site and 20 Kauri were planted in August 2021. This site had several advantages. 1. It has a good vista from the existing board walk below the Keswick entrance. 2. It is a well-drained site that suits kauri 3. It is isolated from foot traffic therefore would have a very low possibility of contracting the disease at some future date (the disease is spread through soil movement) 4. Being on the south side of Sovereign Isles future growth would not shade any dwellings at the top of the gully. Ten months on and the summer drought killed off 15 of the young plants. These are being replanted this winter. Photo: Dead Kauri in a Northland forest- Rex Bushell