The Government is to put an extra $4.7 million into efforts to stop the spread of a disease killing kauri trees.
MAF Biosecurity, the Department of Conservation, and several regional councils made a joint approach for the funding to research a soil pathogen causing the disease, known as kauri dieback or collar rot.
Hundreds of native trees in Northland and Auckland have succumbed to the disease.
The funding will be spent over five years on research into detection of the disease and methods to control it.
There will also be a public awareness campaign.
