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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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Environmental research, ecological monitoring, and scientific findings from universities, Crown research institutes, and field stations.
RSS ↗Smile for the camera! Using new tech to identify baby native fish
May 23rd is World Fish Migration Day – a worldwide celebration of free-flowing rivers and the life they support. We have some very special fish here in Aotearoa, and this year we’re literally shining a spotlight on five species of galaxiid that move between freshwater and the…
Fish go to great lengths in the Whanganui River
Native migratory fish have been detected nearly 300 km inland from the Whanganui River mouth in recent research aimed at guiding restoration of the river.
New concession granted for Stony Batter on Waiheke
DOC has granted Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Man O' War a concession to operate tours of the historic tunnels at Stony Batter.
New hut, updated route for Tongariro Northern Circuit walkers
Construction of Oturere Hut on the Tongariro Northern Circuit is on schedule for the start of the Great Walk Season in October, but Mangatepopo Track remains closed following fires in late 2025.
New stoat sausage bait trial results impressive
A new sausage bait targeting stoats is shaping up to be a valuable tool to protect kiwi and other native wildlife after impressive results in field trials.
“Higher learning” inspires students at Aoraki/Mount Cook
In what’s described as the highest classroom in New Zealand, Department of Conservation ranger Lisa Winterfeldt sits 1200 metres up a mountain to teach a group of 40 Year 12 students.
In harm’s way – mine visitors asked to come forward
A group of people seen inside an off-limits Buller heritage site are being urged to contact DOC to explain how they came to be in an area closed off to the public.
Ex brickie ranger on a mission for heritage
West Coast based Heritage Project Lead Ranger Matt Ainge is preserving New Zealand heritage, one brick at a time.
Boost for cycling infrastructure across NZ
The Government is investing up to $7.1 million to upgrade six Great Rides cycle trails, strengthening regional tourism and safety, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say.
Marine scientists build snapshot view of Gulf’s ecosystems
Marine monitoring is underway on reefs and seafloor areas across the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana in the first year of new marine protections.
Repairs to key Kahurangi access road underway
A popular gateway to Kahurangi National Park should be reopened by Spring with repairs to a damaged road now underway, and tramping tracks have been upgraded for when people can get back out naturing.
Two Tongariro huts join booking system for winter naturing
Waihohonu and Mangatepopo huts in Tongariro National Park can now be booked for winter adventures, with each operating as a serviced hut until the next Great Walk season begins.
Musters a win for nature and Kaimanawa horses
An intense week of musters in the Waiouru Military Training area has seen 58 wild Kaimanawa horses rehomed and nearly 100 mares given contraceptive treatment – but there's still more to do this year.
DOC ranger saves horse with angle grinder
Department of Conservation ranger Gary Hayes didn’t have time to think as he went to aid of a horse stuck in a float, close to death.
Duck season: Not all ducks are fair game
Taranaki duck hunters are reminded to carefully identify targets this season to ensure they are not shooting an endangered species.
Charity helps DOC control wild deer in Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula reserves and feed whānau
Canterbury based charity Hunters4Hope is helping manage wild deer in DOC reserves on Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula - with the venison going to those in need.
DOC and Northland deploy new trap to catch invasive turtles
DOC and the Northland Regional Council (NRC) have partnered to tackle the spread of invasive red-eared sliders with a new purpose-built trap.
Law firm swaps pens for hammers and nails
A national law firm is helping catch predators – the four-legged kind – in a Conservation Week activity by building traps at work.
Remote tech begins a 'new era' for conservation
A pilot scheme trialling an advanced satellite-enabled remote network of sensors in DOC toilets could be the first step towards a revolution for New Zealand conservation and a route to delivering significant cost, carbon, and time savings for the organisation.
The scales of Maukahuka.
On remote Maukahuka/Auckland Island, a small team navigates harsh terrain to service trail cameras and monitor biodiversity. Battling weather, scale, and isolation, they gather vital data to support pest eradication. New satellite technology is transforming conservation efforts,…
New bridge underway for Tongariro River Trail
Progress is coming to the Tongariro River Trail, with construction of a new suspension bridge - right next to the existing Major Jones bridge - due to begin on Monday 20 April.
Kiwis urged to get naturing this Conservation Week
Conservation Week/ Te Wiki o Te Taiao kicks off on April 20, with hundreds of events happening across the country and a simple call to all New Zealanders: get naturing.
Census shows jump in the population of our rarest endemic bird
If you’re out naturing on Northland or Auckland’s beaches, spotting a tara iti (NZ fairy tern) is like finding a needle in a haystack.
What it takes to find a feral cat on Auckland Island
One of our teams’ main objectives for being on Auckland Island is to understand more about feral cat behaviour around a novel predator bait.
Watch for wild dogs in Waioweka
DOC is calling for hunters to report sightings of a pack of feral dogs spotted recently in Waioweka Conservation Area.
Historic viaducts closed for safety, Hump Ridge Track remains open
People out naturing in Southern Fiordland this long weekend should be aware of the ongoing closure of three historic structures.
Allbirds loses its wings: how the $6 billion footwear dream fell apart
As the company that created a global wool-sneaker phenomenon is wound down, we trace the road from 2016 to 2026. T he San Francisco-based footwear company with a New Zealand founder soared during the era of idealistic startups, Silicon Valley optimism and sustainable ambition.…
The New Zealand fuel crisis laid bare in nine simple charts
Ways of looking at the economic shockwaves of a war 15,000km away. Let’s begin at the pump. As you will almost certainly have noticed, prices are angling skyward. Not all fuels are created equal, however. Diesel, which tends to have a crucial role in rural, manufacturing and…
Kapiti takes aim at 'possums of freshwater'
A Kapiti Coast catchment is well on the way to becoming free of koi carp, a noxious introduced fish that leaves a trail of destruction.
Why diesel prices are outstripping petrol – and how we got here
As fuel costs bite, Shane Jones’ decision to scrap a plan for an emergency diesel reserve is coming under scrutiny, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s excerpt from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here . Fuel levels rise, but urgency remains…
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