Science & Research Internal Report No.107 Sudden Decline in Cabbage Trees

Cabbage trees provide New Zealanders with a sense of place, because the trees can survive adverse conditions and rejuvenate themselves indefinitely. Sudden Decline is killing thousands of trees, and public concern has led Government to fund an investigation into the symptoms, cause, and distribution of the disease. Aspects of the biogeography and ecology of cabbage trees are described. The symptoms of Sudden Decline and hypotheses on its cause are reviewed. Although the cause is still unknown, a range of conservation actions are already obvious, particularly the protection of key cabbage tree sites so the populations can regenerate themselves.