Venturing onto closed tracks in the Waitākere Ranges could result in an expensive walk in the park, Auckland Council said.

The council has dished out 20 fines since April 2022 to people who have breached its Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw by entering areas in the ranges that have been closed to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.

One offender, Izak Greywolf, was fined $2000 after he was taken to court by the council for repeated breaches.

The council is urging people to respect the rules by staying on open tracks and using cleaning stations.

“Protecting kauri is everyone’s responsibility,  whether anyone is watching or not,” proactive compliance manager Adrian Wilson said.

Council monitoring shows a third of people on open tracks in the ranges are not using cleaning stations.

A new national pest management plan makes it mandatory for kauri forest visitors to use cleaning stations or face $400 fines.

Under the bylaw, whether or not cleaning stations are present, soil must be cleaned off items that will come into contact with the forest floor, including shoes and walking poles.

Auckland Council closed forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges in May 2018 to protect trees from kauri dieback disease.

It is to reopen 43 tracks in the ranges by 2023/24, with several already open following upgrades to  make them ‘kauri safe’.