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Weather update: 4:15pm Friday 4 April

Maitai Valley Road is closed due to flooding caused by high river levels. Beatson Road detour is no longer required - Waimea Road open. Cable Bay Road open with some minor surface flooding. Sports fields to open on Saturday bar Waahi Taakaro golf course.

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Myrtle Rust in Nelson

Myrtle rust has spread to many parts of New Zealand that have a suitable climate and following the discovery of myrtle rust in the Tasman and Marlborough districts it has also been found on plants in Nelson City. In Tasman and Nelson, Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is providing practical advice to landowners/occupiers with confirmed myrtle rust infection to help them decide how to manage their plants.

Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease that affects plants in the myrtle family, which includes pohutukawa, manuka, and rata as well as some common garden plants such as ramarama and lilly pilly. The first visible symptoms are powdery, bright yellow or orange-yellow pustules that develop on leaves, tips and stems. The pustules can progress into wounds on the plant and may cause leaves and shoots to become misshapen or disfigured and die off. The disease can cause deformed leaves, heavy leaf loss from branches, damaged fruits, canopy dieback, stunted plant growth, and eventually may lead to plant death.

Examples of Myrtle Rust:

A handy guide to identifying Myrtle Rustand more information on caring for Mrytle plants and monitoring for Mrytle rust visit the MPI Biosecurity website.

MPI has surveyed at-risk plants In Nelson to determine the extent of myrtle rust infestation and have found it at four sites – three private properties in The Wood area on ramarama (Lophomyrtus sp.) and pohutukawa, and on a pohutukawa in the Tahunanui Reserve.

A long-term management strategy for myrtle rust will be developed over the next two years in collaboration with iwi, councils, industry and the Department of Conservation.

If you suspect myrtle rust call the MPI Exotic Pest Disease hotline immediately on 0800 80 99 66. Do not touch it or try to collect samples as this may increase the spread of the disease. If you have a camera or phone camera, take clear photos, including the whole plant, the whole affected leaf, and a close-up of the spores or affected area of the plant.

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