About
Many of Australasia’s best-known and most highly valued native trees – from Australia’s eucalypts to New Zealand’s pōhutukawa – are in the family Myrtaceae. Many species in this family urgently need protection from myrtle rust, a disease caused by the globally dispersed pathogen Austropuccinia psidii.
Collaborative research efforts have improved our understanding of our myrtles, the pathogen, and plant/pathogen interactions. Management tools have been developed and deployed, and communities are rapidly mobilising to protect and conserve native plants.
Join us for the second Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference to share and learn about the latest research and management approaches. Be part of the conversation as we celebrate our mighty myrtles and the progress made towards protecting them.
Become a sponsor
We are currently seeking sponsorship for the conference. Our priority is to facilitate the in-person attendance of First Nations, community and student delegates and ensure that online attendance is free to all. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Jenny Leonard (leonardj@landcareresearch.co.nz).
Conference details
Dates:
16-17 June 2025
- The conference dinner will be on 16 June and the optional field trip will be on 18 June
Venue:
This event, held at an intimate venue at the University of Auckland, will feature guest speakers from Australia and New Zealand. In-person attendance is by invitation only, but all talks will be livestreamed to an expansive virtual audience.
Session themes:
- Community-led action
- New technologies, solutions, and research insights
- Species conservation
- Early career initiatives and research
Field trip:
There will be a field trip on 18 June to view Aotearoa New Zealand’s iconic pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) trees on Rangitoto Island. A short ferry ride from Auckland, the island supports the world’s largest pōhutukawa forest, with the trees being fundamental to ecosystem health. Myrtle rust was first detected on Rangitoto in the summer of 2022/2023.
- Field trip duration: We will meet at the ferry at 9am for a 9:30 departure from Auckland. We will be returning on the 2:30 ferry, which will put us back in Auckland around 3 (the estimated return time is 25 minutes).
Registration
We are still setting up a payment portal for invited in-person speakers and attendees. We will be in touch when the portal is open so that payments can be made. In-person registration prices (in NZD) will be:
- Standard: $250 per person
- Student & Unwaged: $50 per person
- Conference dinner (held Monday 16 June): $150 per person
- Field trip: $60
Join the conference online for free! If you are already on the Myrtle Rust Webinar Series mailing list, you will receive updates and registration details automatically. If you are not on that list but are interested in updates, you can join the AMRC 2025 mailing list here. We will also be sharing the link here when it is available.