Conservation & Restoration

Ensuring susceptible plant species survive myrtle rust and kauri dieback.

This research is Active

Overview Te Tirohanga Whānui

It’s a huge challenge to conserve and restore kauri and native plants vulnerable to myrtle rust for future generations.

It requires knowledge of multiple stages of the life histories of the plants, which, in the case of kauri, pōhutukawa, and some species of rātā, needs to take account of them living potentially for many hundreds of years and regenerating naturally only after major disturbance events.

Importantly, conserving and restoring these taonga requires a Te Ao Māori world view and appropriate governance arrangements over the whenua – not just where adult plants grow but also where they can potentially regenerate.  It requires a Te Ao Māori world view about if and where ex situ cultivation is appropriate to secure these taonga.”

Working from a pathogen host and ecosystem point of view, this investment incorporates conservation biology principles to make sure susceptible plant species survive myrtle rust and kauri dieback in Aotearoa.

The team aims to:

  1. Help prevent the extinction of iconic species
  1. Protect at-risk species and ecosystems, and taonga rākau (trees) and locations

Conservation & Restoration 2022

Research Area Summary Te Whakarāpopototanga Kaupapa

Projects will include work on the landscape genomics of kauri, building on the excellent mahi (work) from the Healthy Trees, Healthy Futures programme.

  1. Genetic markers to guide conservation and restoration of taonga under threat of kauri dieback
  2. Tikanga-driven conservation of taonga species
  3. Te Honongā Kawanatanga Māori – ensuring effectiveness of Māori who lead conservation activities for taonga species
  4. Landscape-level restoration of taonga
  5. Protocols for the effective long-term seed collection and storage of taonga to ensure that the species can survive even the worst-case scenario

Co-leads Ngā kaiārahi ngātahi

Alby Marsh, Palmerston North

Alby Marsh

Alby Marsh

Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Te Rarawa
Plant and Food Research
Peter-Bellingham

Peter Bellingham

Peter Bellingham


Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research

Resource outputs from this programme

Output Type
Publication

Advances in cryopreservation of Syzygium maire (swamp maire, maire tawake) zygotic embryos, a critically endangered tree species endemic to New Zealand

Syzygium maire is a threatened Myrtaceae tree species endemic to New Zealand. Due to its highly recalcitrant seed, cryopreservation is the only viable long-term ex situ…
View Publication
Publication

Can seed banking assist in conserving the highly endemic New Zealand indigenous flora?

Globally, plant species are facing numerous threats; an issue particularly acute for island floras, which often exhibit high levels of endemism. Ex situ conservation in…
View Publication
Presentation

Extracting and cryopreserving embryonic axes

Presented at the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Conference on the Environment, online conference 2021. Cryopreservation offers a method of conserving exceptional species long term…
View Presentation
Presentation

Understanding the distribution of genetic variation in ramarama – Amy MacDonald

Understanding the distribution of genetic variation in ramarama and its potential implications for conservation. Presented as part of the Kaurilands Summit 2023, hosted by Ngā…
View Presentation
Presentation

Conservation genetics of maire tawake – Colan Balkwill

Restoration genetics of maire tawake – a nationally critically threatened tree species. Presented as part of the Kaurilands Summit 2023, hosted by Ngā Rākau Taketake.…
View Presentation
Publication

Evaluation of droplet-vitrification, vacuum infiltration vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration for cryopreservation of Syzygium maire zygotic embryos

Syzygium maire is a threatened tree species with limited information on long-term storage options for its recalcitrant seed. The objective of this research is to evaluate…
View Publication
Publication

Impacts of Rapid Desiccation on Oxidative Status, Ultrastructure and Physiological Functions of Syzygium maire (Myrtaceae) Zygotic Embryos in Preparation for Cryopreservation

Syzygium maire is a highly threatened Myrtaceae tree species endemic to New Zealand. Due to its recalcitrant seed storage behaviour, cryopreservation is the only viable…
View Publication
Publication

New Zealand endemic Neomyrtus is sister to New Caledonian endemic Myrtastrum (Myrtaceae, Myrteae)

Neomyrtus is a New Zealand endemic monotypic genus that has been assigned to the Myrtaceae tribe Myrteae. Previous phylogenetic studies have placed the single species…
View Publication
Publication

Elevating and Recognising Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples to Improve Forest Biosecurity

Current forest biosecurity systems and processes employed in many countries are, in large, constructs of Western principles, values and science knowledge that have been introduced…
View Publication
Publication

Ecological importance of the Myrtaceae in New Zealand’s natural forests

The Myrtaceae is a woody family that plays an important role in forest ecosystems globally. The recent spread of myrtle rust, caused by a fungal…
View Publication
Data Set

Genotypic variation, phylogeography, unified species concept, and the ‘grey zone’ of taxonomic uncertainty in kānuka: recognition of Kunzea ericoides (A.Rich.) Joy Thomps. sens. lat. (Myrtaceae)

In vascular plant systematics there are sometimes conflicts between phenotypic and ecotypic variation and genetic differentiation that challenge species concepts, introduce taxonomic confusion, and create…
View Data Set
Publication

Sexual and asexual propagation of Syzygium maire, a critically endangered Myrtaceae species of New Zealand

Syzygium maire (swamp maire) is an endemic New Zealand Myrtaceae tree species. Current threats to this species include habitat destruction, myrtle rust, declining remnant populations…
View Publication
Publication

Seed Storage Physiology of Lophomyrtus and Neomyrtus, Two Threatened Myrtaceae Genera Endemic to New Zealand

There is no published information on the seed germination or seed storage physiology of Lophomyrtus bullata, Lophomyrtus obcordata, and Neomyrtus pedunculata. This lack of information is hampering conservation efforts…
View Publication
Tool or Model

Myrtle Rust Science Stocktake

A list of past and current research focussed on biology, impacts and management of myrtle rust is now available. This updated stocktake builds on work…
View Tool or Model
Tool or Model

Kauri Dieback Science Stocktake

A list of past and current research focused on biology, impacts and management of kauri dieback is now available. This updated stocktake builds on work…
View Tool or Model
Video

Conservation & Restoration 2022

It’s a huge challenge to conserve and restore kauri and native plants vulnerable to myrtle rust for future generations. It requires Te Ao Māori world…
View Video

Have you found this research useful? Please help the cause by sharing

Scroll to Top