Confirm Your Spot: Myrtle Rust Surveillance Training
We have received a lot of interest in Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) recent Myrtle Rust training that was held at Muru Raupatu in August. Therefore MPI is offering a second round of field training on how to identify Myrtle Rust. Myrtle Rust is a fungal plant disease that infects plants in the myrtaceae family. Of particular concern to Māori is its effect on pōhutukawa, rātā, kānuka, mānuka, swamp maire and commercially grown species such as feijoa. Māori recognise that not only are Myrtaceae at risk from myrtle rust, but also associated taonga species such as birds due to the knock on effects. This training is best suited to whānau and kaitiaki that work with taonga species or in the ngahere. You could be someone who specialises in rongoa, a Māori bee-keeper, a native nursery kaimahi or a kaitiaki who works eradicating pests, mapping taonga species and/or reinstating natural forests and waterways.
Myrtle Rust Surveillance Training
Hui: One-day hui – 24 training places available on each day (5-6 training spaces have been allocated for each Iwi of Taranaki).
Dates: 5th and 6th October 2017
Location: Muru Raupatu Marae, Te Arei Road West, Bell Block
Schedule for one-day training:
– About Myrtle Rust
– Its History
– The native and exotic species it impacts
– How to identify it
– Hygiene and precaution (preventing spread)
– Identifying myrtle rust in the natural environment
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: 1) This training will not train you to teach others or take samples, the focus is on identification of the disease; 2) You will not be paid to attend training but there is some support for travel to and from the training.
If you would like to attend this training please contact Sera Gibson on 06 758 4685.