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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.
Awa & Moana
freshwater & marine
Rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters — water quality, marine reserves, and the health of Aotearoa's awa and moana.
RSS ↗Another sewage discharge on Wellington's south coast
The cause of the discharge is unknown but investigations are underway.
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.
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.
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.
DOC rangers reveal their top 5 winter walks
Looking for some ideas for the school holidays and Matariki? Or do you feel like you need a little mental reset or ‘me time’?
Marine Mammal Sanctuary rules change to improve dolphin protection in Te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands)
A change has been made to the rules which regulate our interactions with marine mammals in Te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands) Marine Mammal Sanctuary.
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.
Bill banning climate tort cases like Mike Smith's passes first reading
Labour has announced it would repeal the legislation if it wins government.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Allowing cattle effluent into stream brings home detention
Tokanui man Andrew Wright was convicted on 35 breaches of the Resource Management Act.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Genetic switch helps land-locked whitebait adapt
Researchers find the fish undergo dramatic biological shifts when their path to the sea becomes blocked.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Explainer: Could the Conservation Amendment Bill really lead to billionaires buying up the national estate?
Explainer: A major law change is nothing to fear, the government says. But are they missing the point?
Baby, it's cold inside: Half of Kiwis say homes aren't warm enough
A major new study shows that many New Zealand households are putting up with indoor temperatures below the recommended healthy minimum.
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