increase font size
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.
The booklet, ‘Common insect pests and diseases of New Zealand native plants’, helps protect indigenous plant health. It can be used to help educate people about plant diseases, allowing them to broadly identify what insect pests and diseases they may come across.
New Zealand’s native species have a range of insect pests and diseases associated with them. Many of these are native, common and not known to cause significant damage.
The booklet can help readers separate these common diseases from potentially new diseases – such as myrtle rust or kauri dieback – that could damage native trees.
Each insect pest and pathogen is described in detail, with large photographs to make identification easy. A glossary with the Māori and scientific names of insect pests, diseases and host plants is included.
The booklet was a result of Te Rātā Whakamaru, a collaborative programme between Scion, Rotoiti 15 trust and the Department of Conservation funded by Jobs for Nature.
The programme’s role was to create jobs that supported nature. Te Rātā Whakamaru established roles for surveying and monitoring myrtle rust in the Bay of Plenty and sought to identify possible disease-resistant ramarama and rōhutu plants for the propagation of resistant planting material.
Any suspected new diseases or pests should be reported to the Ministry of Primary Industries on 0800 80 99 66 or at https://report.mpi.govt.nz/pest.
Testing confirms H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Chief Veterinary Officer.
The apple sector is working with the Government to unlock access to two key markets that could bring millions in revenue for apple growers.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
OPINION: A simpler, clearer, more effective Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
New Zealand apple and pear industry stakeholders are out in force for the annual conference in Queenstown.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
