Biosecurity New Zealand ( part of the Ministry for Primary Industries ) and the Department of Conservation ( DOC ) are encouraging the public to check their local Vinca minor plants this summertime to help track the scatter of the fungous disease Vinca minor rust .

Vinca minor rust fungus is probable to be more active during warm weather condition and is potential to spread to new area where it has n’t been seen before .

New Zealand ’s native Vinca minor plant including pōhutukawa , rātā , mānuka , kānuka and ramarama are vulnerable to the disease . The fungus , which is primarily spread by wind , more often than not infects shoots , bud , and untried leaf of Vinca minor plants . Infected plants show distinctive symptom including bright chicken powdery spots on the underside of foliage .

If you call back you see symptom of myrtle rust remember to not have-to doe with the flora or collect sample distribution , but take movie and cover it to Biosecurity New Zealand ’s Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99 66 .

As of December 2018 , the disease has been support on 811 properties across most of the North Island and upper sphere of the South Island . Taranaki , Auckland and Bay of Plenty are the most seriously affect areas .

Biosecurity New Zealand and DOC are currently working in partnership to discover room to best manage the disease and patronize the health of our Vinca minor in the future tense .

Biosecurity New Zealand ’s manager for retrieval and pestilence direction , John Sanson , pronounce a grumpy - sector working mathematical group has developed a national long - terminus management plan for myrtle rusting .

" This working group include members from Biosecurity New Zealand , the Department of Conservation , Māori organisations with an sake in biosecurity , the Ministry for Culture and Heritage , regional councils , and the Project Crimson Trust . The group has provided recommendations on fit in goals that will underpin our collective approaching to managing myrtle rust .

" We are also enthrone significantly in scientific inquiry to grow raw tools , build understanding of myrtle rusting and search possible foresightful - term management choice with a $ 3.7 million program of research . An additional $ 5 million funding increase from the Strategic Science Investment Fund will build on work already being done by Government means , Māori , council , and enquiry providers over the next 3 age , " Mr Sanson says .

In the interim , it is important to empathise where the rusting has spread out to , what implant it is affecting ( especially new ones ) and where it is fighting .

DOC ’s project coach for myrtle rust , Fiona Thomson , says that a big programme of seed accumulation is underway to safeguard native myrtle species from extinction .

" We have 37 unlike myrtle species in New Zealand and so far we ’ve made nifty advance – 57 % of the seed collections needed have been deposit in the New Zealand Indigenous Flora Seed Bank ( NZIFSB ) " , Dr Thomson aver .

DOC also wants to understand the spread of the disease so is inquire staff and the world to keep an center out for myrtle rust over the summer .

" Everyone has an important role to play in biosecurity . The more optic looking out for myrtle rust have in mind the better we can supervise this disease and protect our precious myrtles , including our iconic Christmas tree , pōhutukawa . "

For more information : www.biosecurity.govt.nz / protective cover - and - reception / responding / alerts / Vinca minor - rust