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KAITIAKITANGA — CARING FOR AOTEAROA'S NATURAL WORLD

Environmental news for Aotearoa New Zealand — for DOC rangers, conservation practitioners, environmental scientists, and anyone who cares about this land.

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Climate change impacts, emissions, adaptation, and the transition to a low-carbon Aotearoa.

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RNZ Environment

Another sewage discharge on Wellington's south coast

The cause of the discharge is unknown but investigations are underway.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Nelson Tenths: Nick Smith concerned settlement will mean loss of protection for Abel Tasman

The Nelson Tenths Bill would enable the transfer of more than 250 specific titles of land from the Crown to Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Women devastated wetland forest could be felled to make way for highway

Two towering stands of kahikatea trees form a natural gateway to the historic town of Waipū in Northland but their days may be numbered.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Giant petrel found dead on Farewell Spit to be tested for bird flu

Since detections of bird flu in Australia, an official said there had been an uptick in reports of dead and sick wildlife.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
Greenpeace NZ

March for Nature launched to protect conservation

Greenpeace and Forest Bird have announced a March for Nature to be held in Auckland on 19 September 2026, in defence of nature. The post March for Nature launched to protect conservation appeared first on Greenpeace Aotearoa .

KaupapapolicyĀhuarangiclimate +1
RNZ Environment

Environmental group hails court decision on orange roughy catch-limit

A judge has found a former minister failed to consider protection for important environments, like spawning grounds, when deciding the limit.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Bill banning climate tort cases like Mike Smith's passes first reading

Labour has announced it would repeal the legislation if it wins government.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Tarakihi stocks in shocking state after decades of overfishing, advocates warn

The Environmental Defence Society is calling for a complete closure of the entire fishery to provide the best chance of recovery.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
Greenpeace NZ

Greenpeace slams issuing of High Seas permit for Tasman Sea bottom trawler

The Tasman Viking, a bottom trawling vessel that pulled up protected coral in international waters two years ago, has been issued an international fishing permit by the New Zealand government in a move environmentalists are calling outrageous. The post Greenpeace slams issuing…

KaupapapolicyĀhuarangiclimate +1
Greenpeace NZ

Government makes dog’s breakfast of the Conservation consultation

Greenpeace says Govt has made a “dog’s breakfast” of the Conservation Amendment Bill consultation, as submissions deadline is extended. The post Government makes dog’s breakfast of the Conservation consultation appeared first on Greenpeace Aotearoa .

KaupapapolicyĀhuarangiclimate +1
RNZ Environment

Conservation Amendment Bill submissions extended by 10 days

Submissions on the Conservation Amendment Bill have been extended after the minister asked the committee to allow a broader discussion of the proposed law.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

El Niño officially declared in New Zealand

Earth Sciences NZ has followed counterparts in Australia, Japan and the US in declaring an El Niño event.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

DOC chief admits department failed over Far North campgrounds

The Department of Conservation has acknowledged it failed to properly oversee the management of three Far North campgrounds for years.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Minister accuses Forest and Bird of 'unnecessary scaremongering' over game animal bill

Forest and Bird has slammed the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill, saying it will prioritise "wealthy trophy hunters" over conservation.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

DOC and Ngāti Kuri divided over whether $1.8m owed after campground mismanagement

The Department of Conservation has acknowledged it failed to properly oversee the management of three Far North campgrounds for years.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Allowing cattle effluent into stream brings home detention

Tokanui man Andrew Wright was convicted on 35 breaches of the Resource Management Act.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Massive mussels in NZ waters replicated in new research

Recycled green-lip mussel shells leftover from farms, that would otherwise be thrown into landfill, are being used to mimic the role once played by the dense horse mussel beds.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Farmland effective nesting habitat for endangered hoiho penguins, new research finds

Hoiho penguins are declining on the South Island, but a new study says that they can thrive on farmland without the need for expensive reforestation projects.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Stormy weather could be behind mass death of eagle rays at Porirua beach

The discovery of at least 20 dead eagle rays and two Rig sharks was made during a beach clean-up on Sunday.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

High Court was wrong to find order forcing councils to fluoridate unlawful, appeal finds

The Health Ministry appealed a High Court decision that found its order forcing 14 councils to fluoridate was unlawful.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Climate change activist files High Court proceedings over government ruling

Mike Smith has filed a court case against the government's plans to prevent companies being sued over their greenhouse gas emissions.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

The big switch: Electrifying NZ homes could save billions

Going all-electric is no longer just a climate argument, an advocate says - it is an economic one.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Biodiversity gains from multi-million philanthropic investment in Abel Tasman to be handed over to DOC

Whio, pateke and kaka have been reintroduced into the Abel Tasman, and gorse and wilding pines have also been removed from the landscape.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Genetic switch helps land-locked whitebait adapt

Researchers find the fish undergo dramatic biological shifts when their path to the sea becomes blocked.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Santana Minerals asked if it will cover cost of catastrophic failure at proposed Otago mine

It was also asked how it plans to protect more than 100,000 at-risk lizards.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Trout poachers breaking rules at popular Ngongotahā fishing spot

Spawning season has made the fish easy prey, as they move to shallow water, but they're not tasty to eat.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

An up-close look at the bad bugs hiding in our lakes, according to scientists

A look at the DNA in our lakes confirms the effects of on-land activities on our waterways, scientists say.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Fast-track application for Otago gold mine paused

Santana Minerals told shareholders it was taking extra time to provide additional data and reports and to workshop conditions with regulators.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
RNZ Environment

Controversial clause in Conservation Amendment Bill that allows sale of conservation land to be removed

Minister Tama Potaka says he wasn't clear enough in explaining how land would be protected.

Ngahereforest & conservationĀhuarangiclimate +2
Greenpeace NZ

Potaka announcement not enough, scrap Conservation Bill says Greenpeace

Greenpeace Aotearoa says the Conservation Amendment Bill is rotten and must be scrapped entirely, as public outcry over the proposal forces the Conservation Minister to take his proposal to make it easier to sell off or exchange land back to Cabinet. The post Potaka announcement…

KaupapapolicyĀhuarangiclimate +1

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