Wild pig population boom threatens Northland kauri

A Far North farmer and naturalist says wild pigs are causing terrible damage to ancient kauri forest on Northland's steep west coast. Kevin Matthews says he took Te Papa researchers to the Warawara and Herekino forests last week and was horrified by what he saw. He says the pig population is out of control, and the forest floor under the big trees looks as it it's been rotary-hoed along with their roots. And the trunks of many forest giants have slashed by tusks. Kevin Matthews says there is kauri dieback in both forests and the chances of the trees being infected has just increased a hundred-fold. He spoke to our Northland reporter Lois Williams: