2024 media releases

Date: 24 December 2024
The senseless vandalism of multiple pou whenua along the Abel Tasman Coast Track has sparked dismay among locals, and is being investigated by DOC and NZ Police.

Date: 23 December 2024
With hot and dry conditions across much of the country this holiday season, anyone heading into the outdoors is reminded to be fire safe to protect our special places and vulnerable native species.

Date: 20 December 2024
A keen naturalist out clearing traps has discovered a new population of critically endangered Canterbury knobbled weevils, giving new hope for the species’ long-term survival.

Date: 20 December 2024
With another busy summer in full swing at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, there are some simple steps visitors can take so to respect the park and ensure everyone has a great trip.

Date: 19 December 2024
DOC has tracked an Australasian harrier/kāhu flying an impressive 1600 km between Waikato and Otago in under two weeks this spring.

Date: 21 December 2024
Tāne Mahuta, Northland's iconic kauri tree, reopened today (21 December) following a dawn blessing by Te Roroa that celebrated the completion of significant conservation work.

Date: 18 December 2024
A North Canterbury man has been fined $6,000 for driving a digger through a large black-billed gulls/tarāpuka colony, destroying their nests.

Date: 18 December 2024
The endangered king shag, confined to the Marlborough Sounds, has enjoyed a great breeding season thanks to better weather conditions over winter.

Date: 17 December 2024
Three new shelters on the Whanganui Journey Great Walk serve to reflect the environment and culture of the river, enhancing the visitor experience of the multi-day kayak trip.

Date: 17 December 2024
Hundreds of seabirds found washed up along the west coast of the North Island are likely to have died from starvation due to climate change impacts.

Date: 17 December 2024
Some popular hiking and mountain biking trails in Canterbury’s Craigieburn Forest Park will be closed over the holidays due to the impacts of a recent wildfire.

Date: 17 December 2024
The Cook Islands’ Palmerston Atoll (500 km away from Rarotonga) is officially rat free following a tremendous eradication effort by the local community, with support from agencies in Rarotonga and New Zealand.

Date: 16 December 2024
DOC is seeking public feedback on Whakapapa Holdings Limited’s (WHL) concession application to operate Whakapapa Ski Area on Mt Ruapehu.

Date: 13 December 2024
Source: Office of the Minister for Hunting and Fishing
A collaborative effort between hunters, landowners, and conservation organisations has successfully removed 12,935 wild goats during the second annual national competition, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay announced today.

Date: 13 December 2024
A concentrated effort during a favourable weather window has meant DOC is able to reopen a closed section of the Paparoa Track, ahead of schedule.

Date: 13 December 2024
Source: Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation, Tūhura Otago Museum, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago
Vestigial teeth were just one of many new discoveries made by scientists during the dissection of the rarest whale in the world, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou says.

Date: 12 December 2024
The Loder Cup for excellence in advocating for New Zealand’s indigenous flora was awarded to John Barkla today in Dunedin.

Date: 11 December 2024
A rare dolphin has been spotted today by a rowing team in Auckland’s inner Waitematā Harbour.

Date: 11 December 2024
DOC is excited to announce the start of the 2024/2025 breeding season for the critically endangered tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern).

Date: 11 December 2024
Visitor demand is growing and New Zealanders continue to value getting out in nature, according to DOC’s latest annual visitor insights report released today.

Date: 10 December 2024
West Coasters are being urged to share their views on the future of conservation in the region, with a public survey closing on Monday, 16 December.

Date: 10 December 2024
After more than 40 years weathering storms, snow, sun, and gale-force winds, it’s time to renew much-loved Pouākai Hut.

Date: 10 December 2024
Source: Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation and Mahi Mō Te Taiao Waikanae Jobs for Nature
A 12 December gathering at Otaraua Park on the Kāpiti Coast marks the transition of the Waikanae Jobs for Nature project into an ongoing, iwi-run business and legacy supporting nature in the Waikanae River catchment.

Date: 09 December 2024
Opening statement by DOC Director-General Penny Nelson at Environment Select Committee on Tuesday 3 December 2024.

Date: 06 December 2024
A section of the Paparoa Great Walk is closed until Saturday 21 December 2024 because of a slip.

Date: 06 December 2024
People out enjoying the South Island’s iconic braided rivers are urged to respect vulnerable native nesting birds.

Date: 06 December 2024
DOC and Ngāti Kere have completed a review of Te Angiangi Marine Reserve in Hawke’s Bay.

Date: 06 December 2024
A feral cat has single-handedly destroyed the largest black-fronted tern/tarapirohe colony on Canterbury’s Waiau Toa/Clarence River in one weekend.

Date: 06 December 2024
Source: Office of the Ministers of Climate Change, Forestry, Conservation and Land Information
Cabinet has agreed to explore public-private partnerships to plant trees on Crown land, supporting New Zealand’s climate change targets and creating more jobs.

Date: 05 December 2024
The reopening of Tāne Mahuta in Northland has been rescheduled to 21 December 2024, following a blessing that morning.

Date: 05 December 2024
Backyard trappers are being reminded to keep leg-hold traps off the ground to protect Coromandel kiwi from injury or death.

Date: 02 December 2024
DOC was alerted to a whale stranding at Farewell Spit, Golden Bay at about 1 pm today.

Date: 02 December 2024
Source: Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation and Nga Hua o Mōrere
Nga Hua o Mōrere Steering Roopu are pleased to announce the much-anticipated reopening of the Mōrere Hot Springs.

Date: 02 December 2024
Source: Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation, Tūhura Otago Museum, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago
Mana whenua and scientists will examine the rarest whale in the world for the first time ever.

Date: 29 November 2024
Source: Office of the Minister for Conservation, Office of the Associate Minister for Regional Development
Sightseers to the iconic Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track) will enjoy a richer experience thanks to a world class visitor experience centre run by local Iwi, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

Date: 01 December 2024
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The Government has delivered on its promise to restore public walking access to the popular Mautohe Cathedral Cove in time for Summer 2024-2025.

Date: 29 November 2024
People wanting to fly drones on conservation land will face a more straightforward permitting process with new changes recently introduced.

Date: 28 November 2024
Dirt bikers using walking tracks have been put on notice as DOC seeks to prevent illegal off-roading on public conservation land.

Date: 27 November 2024
DOC is asking whitebaiters to share their whitebait catch diaries and help contribute to a better understanding of the national whitebait fishery.

Date: 27 November 2024
Fifty-six metres of brand-new suspension bridge is now keeping Abel Tasman Coast Track users from having to wait for the tide to go out or get wet feet.

Date: 25 November 2024
Guided mountain-biking from Waihaha to Waihora and a guided tramp in the Rangipo Desert are among fresh offerings in the 2025 Mahi Aroha summer programme.

Date: 24 November 2024
A pilot whale stranding at Ruakākā Beach in Northland has sadly seen three adults and one calf die.

Date: 22 November 2024
DOC has added 15 huts to its booking system this week to help manage crowding, support revenue collection and align with the Te Araroa Trail Pass launched in August.

Date: 22 November 2024
A new survey aimed at shaping the future management of West Coast conservation land has received more responses from people outside the West Coast than locals, with just under a month left for West Coasters to make their voices heard.

Date: 18 November 2024
Scheduled visitor safety works are temporarily closing the Windows Walk in Karangahake Gorge, but the door remains open for other stunning heritage experiences.

Date: 19 November 2024
The surprise arrival of a seal had workers off the Taranaki coast dialling DOCHOT for urgent wildlife advice last Thursday.

Date: 15 November 2024
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

Date: 14 November 2024
Work to reinstate access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove has reached a critical stage. DOC is warning reopening in the next few weeks will only be possible if people stay away and allow workers to complete construction.

Date: 13 November 2024
Next summer (2025/26) DOC intends to pilot paid parking at three South Island visitor hotspots to help manage visitor pressure and support conservation.

Date: 13 November 2024
DOC has established a new conservation grant funding programme for Hawke’s Bay, opening the door for the community to undertake predator control or replanting of areas with native species.

Date: 12 November 2024
DOC has received a helping hand from the New Zealand Army on the West Coast.

Date: 11 November 2024
A rowi, New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, has been found in new territory, marking an important milestone for the South Westland kiwi population.

Date: 07 November 2024
DOC rangers were thrilled to find the first two southern New Zealand dotterel/pukunui chicks of the season on Stewart Island/Rakiura earlier this week.

Date: 06 November 2024
The Department of Conservation and New Zealand Nature Fund are partnering to save endangered species by matching investment to projects.

Date: 05 November 2024
The northern end of the Te Henga Walkway was officially reopened today in West Auckland by the Department of Conservation alongside mana whenua Te Kawerau ā Maki.

Date: 04 November 2024
Wellingtonians will be able to experience Mātiu/Somes Island in Wellington again from Friday, 22 November, following the successful replacement of the island’s 85-year-old wharf.

Date: 31 October 2024
Picturesque Ōkārito has been recognised today as a Tohu Whenua site – acknowledging it as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s must do places to explore history where it happened.

Date: 30 October 2024
As the summer walking season gets underway, DOC is reminding walkers to ensure they look after themselves and the special places they visit.

Date: 29 October 2024
‘If you have to go, know where to go’ is the message to visitors to Matatā Campsite this summer, as stretched wastewater facilities await town-wide solutions.

Date: 29 October 2024
A fire that burnt through more than 1,000 hectares of the internationally significant Whangamarino wetland is fully controlled after nine days.

Date: 29 October 2024
A carved pou restored and returned to the Whanganui River Road last week has supported the revitalisation of toi whakairo (traditional arts) in Whanganui.

Date: 25 October 2024
Springtime means longer days and warmer weather, making the long weekend a great opportunity to discover DOC campgrounds and farm walkways.

Date: 25 October 2024
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka joined tangata whenua from Ngāi Tahu and local community members today to celebrate the opening of New Zealand’s eleventh Great Walk – the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track.

Date: 24 October 2024
Juvenile toroa/northern royal albatross from Pukekura/Taiaroa Head have taken to the sky, marking the end of another successful breeding season.

Date: 24 October 2024
DOC has a simple message for locals and visitors to top West Coast tourist destination and Tohu Whenua site Denniston – “leave Denniston relics where they lie”.

Date: 23 October 2024
Work to upgrade the Rob Roy suspension bridge has been completed and it is now open to the public again.

Date: 17 October 2024
Ongoing predator control work over 25,000 ha in the Heaphy valley in Kahurangi National Park has resulted in growing numbers of birds and bats, a recent monitoring report shows.

Date: 17 October 2024
DOC is gearing up for a busy summer, with thousands of campers expected to flock to popular Northland campsites.

Date: 17 October 2024
A team from Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust are hard at work reducing pest plants in Mautohe Cathedral Cove as part of project to restore the area and reinstate walking access to the popular beach.

Date: 16 October 2024
DOC is pleased to announce funding for community-led efforts to protect our species most at risk of extinction is opening for applications today.

Date: 16 October 2024
A New Zealand fur seal/kekeno on railway tracks near Ngauranga, Wellington, caused considerable delays for commuters in the country’s capital this morning.

Date: 16 October 2024
More than 600,000 tonnes of carbon were lost to the atmosphere in recent fires at two of New Zealand’s most important wetlands, highlighting the importance of keeping wetlands wet.

Date: 16 October 2024
A final translocation of roroa/great spotted kiwi – the largest of kiwi species – could boost Nelson Lakes National Park kiwi to the right number of ‘founder’ birds for a healthy population.

Date: 16 October 2024
The public are invited to share their views on how conservation lands and waters are managed across Te Tai Poutini (West Coast), with the review of a new Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) now underway.

Date: 14 October 2024
With kiwi numbers in Whanganui National Park and surrounding areas projected to grow by 1000 over the next few years, DOC is encouraging people to follow a few simple steps and keep kiwi safe.

Date: 11 October 2024
The mother of the juvenile pakake/sea lion recently found shot in Catlins Estuary has also been killed by someone using a firearm, which has sickened and shocked DOC staff.

Date: 10 October 2024
DOC is reporting significant damage to tracks in Otago and Southland following last week’s extreme weather.

Date: 09 October 2024
A values-led approach to management for three Whakatāne reserves has been set out in the draft revision of the Tapatoru ā Toi Conservation Management Plan, which opens for submissions today.

Date: 07 October 2024
DOC on the West Coast is joining up with the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) to run a “Bush to Belly” event in Punakaiki focused around preparing goat meat to eat.

Date: 04 October 2024
DOC is urging people in Otago and Southland to be careful this weekend as the current red alert weather event has already impacted tracks, with more rain forecast.

Date: 04 October 2024
Public access to the Ruahine Forest Park via Kashmir Rd will be closed for public safety while pines are felled in the area following several close calls with people ignoring safety restrictions.

Date: 04 October 2024
Today on World Animal Day, long-time partners Auckland Zoo and DOC have signed a new strategic partnership to deliver even greater outcomes for conservation across Aotearoa.

Date: 03 October 2024
The pakake/sea lion found in the Catlins Estuary died from internal bleeding caused by shotgun injuries, a necropsy has determined.

Date: 02 October 2024
A lone Norway rat on the previously pest-free island of Te Motutapu a Taikehu (Motutapu) and adjoining Peretū/Rangitoto in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana has finally been eradicated after having eaten toxic bait.

Date: 01 October 2024
DOC is urging people to check their home’s eaves and attics to ensure there are no feathery squatters like kākā this breeding season.

Date: 01 October 2024
Some of our most precious plants are in serious trouble due to browsing animals, weeds, climate change and other threats, but active management can turn decline into recovery.

Date: 30 September 2024
Takahē have had their best breeding season on Te Motutapu a Taikehu (Motutapu) since breeding pairs were established at the site in 2011.

Date: 27 September 2024
With zero sign of predators and already three hatched chicks, this breeding season is looking positive for kea in Wairau/Rainbow valley and Nelson Lakes National Park.

Date: 26 September 2024
New data shows numbers of rock wren/pīwauwau/tuke, Aotearoa New Zealand’s only true alpine bird, are increasing where predators are controlled in its mountain home.

Date: 26 September 2024
DOC is opening William Hartree Memorial Lodge in Hawke’s Bay for public bookings from this Saturday.

Date: 25 September 2024
A hawksbill sea turtle found alive on Ōkupe beach, Aotea/Great Barrier Island, has been urgently flown to Auckland Zoo for medical attention, where it remains critically ill.

Date: 25 September 2024
DOC staff are horrified by the apparent shooting and painful death of a juvenile sea lion/pakake in the Catlins and are calling for the public to come forward with any information.

Date: 25 September 2024
DOC is asking people to watch out for invasive red-eared slider turtles in and around ponds, wetland and rivers in and around rivers and streams as they emerge from a state of ‘brumation’.

Date: 17 September 2024
DOC is asking the public for sightings of the pygmy blue whale successfully freed from a wharf on Kawau Island on Monday.

Date: 16 September 2024
DOC is aware of a juvenile pygmy blue whale, approximately 14-15 meters in length, stranded under the Schoolhouse Bay Wharf on Kawau Island.

Date: 16 September 2024
Work is about to begin on the first phase of a long-term, transformative project to protect Tāne Mahuta and preserve Waipoua Forest for future generations.

Date: 06 September 2024
Five of Westland’s special protected areas celebrate their 10th anniversary this month.

Date: 03 September 2024
The Lees Road car park near Mautohe Cathedral Cove will be closed to the public while walking access reinstatement work is underway.

Date: 03 September 2024
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The Government has introduced clear priorities to modernise Te Papa Atawhai - DOC’s protection of our natural taonga.

Date: 03 September 2024
Source: Offices of the Minister of Conservation and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised to $100 to ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka say.

Date: 03 September 2024
Source: Department of Conservation, Love Bittern and Bittern Conservation Trust
As Conservation Week 2024 gets underway, New Zealanders are being urged to take action for nature by joining The Great Matuku Muster.

Date: 30 August 2024
The West Coast community will celebrate Conservation Week 2024 with a free event to inspire people to take action for nature.

Date: 30 August 2024
The popular Awaroa/Godley Head site, near Christchurch, has reopened to the public after a successful remediation.

Date: 29 August 2024
Taking action for wetlands will be easier in the Bay of Plenty thanks to a Conservation Week event dedicated to providing landowners with practical support.

Date: 29 August 2024
DOC is thrilled to announce the start of several vital research projects aimed at closing key knowledge gaps in tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern) conservation.

Date: 29 August 2024
Removal of dangerous trees and self-sown wilding pines marks the start of physical work to reinstate temporary walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove’s iconic beach.

Date: 28 August 2024
DOC’s predator control programme is achieving its best results ever due in part to improved timing for operations.

Date: 21 August 2024
The list of weeds threatening New Zealand’s native plants and ecosystems has grown, with the addition of 112 species to the latest edition.

Date: 20 August 2024
Trials collecting data on forests using helicopter-mounted hi-tech 3D lasers are underway, which could have significant benefits for climate change mitigation and conservation.

Date: 19 August 2024
Gusty winds and bouts of rain didn’t deter dozens of volunteers from making valuable contributions to kōkako protection at Mapara on Saturday.

Date: 16 August 2024
DOC is urging whitebaiters to have fun down at the river, follow the rules, and keep themselves and freshwater habitats safe as the whitebaiting season kicks off.

Date: 15 August 2024
Ngāi Tahu and DOC are delighted takahē have been thriving, and raising juveniles, in their first year in their new home on Ngāi Tahu whenua/land in the upper Lake Whakatipu Waimāori valleys.

Date: 14 August 2024
A rare basking shark found at Gillespies Beach has been removed from the beach by DOC for preservation and further study at Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Date: 13 August 2024
The release of almost 160 kakī/black stilt into the wilds of Te Manahuna/Mackenzie Basin has capped off another successful kakī breeding season.

Date: 07 August 2024
A threatened dabchick/weweia has been killed by a dog at Lake Ōkāreka near Rotorua.

Date: 07 August 2024
Advanced high-definition cameras trialled to monitor the health of the forest canopy in Coromandel Forest Park show stark differences where possums are controlled.

Date: 06 August 2024
With just under a month until Conservation Week 2024, the Department of Conservation is urging people to think hard about what action they could take for nature.

Date: 07 August 2024
Te Araroa Trust and DOC have teamed up to create the Te Araroa ‘Trail Pass’ for summer 2024/25.

Date: 05 August 2024
The future of conservation in the Far North (Te Hiku) region is in the spotlight as public submissions on the draft Te Hiku o Te Ika-a-Māui Conservation Management Strategy (the draft Te Hiku CMS) open today.

Date: 01 August 2024
DOC staff are appealing for information after 21 protected red-billed gulls were killed by a driver who allegedly drove their vehicle through the birds’ colony on Pukehina Beach late last month.

Date: 02 August 2024
Following the success of the 2023 competition, DOC and the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) are pleased to announce the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition is back for 2024.

Date: 01 August 2024
DOC has reopened Hawke’s Bay’s Opouahi Scenic Reserve and White Pine Bush sites to the public as of Tuesday, 30 July 2024.

Date: 31 July 2024
Restoring the whenua is a labour of love for the whānau behind Hiruhārama/Jerusalem project Ngahere Manaaki, and the results are looking good for both land and people.

Date: 26 July 2024
A large matai tree standing over the Hans Bay picnic area at Lake Kaniere will be felled after an assessment revealed it as hazardous.

Date: 24 July 2024
Visitors can now safely complete the full loop of the Ohinetonga Track in Owhango after DOC rangers have worked to reinstate the slip-impacted northern end.

Date: 24 July 2024
DOC staff on the North Island’s East Coast say they are pleasantly surprised by how well tracks have fared after recent weather events in the area.

Date: 23 July 2024
Rats not only have a taste for bird eggs – it turns out they’re fond of fish eggs too.

Date: 15 July 2024
A whale so rare only six specimens have ever been known to science has washed ashore on an Otago beach.

Date: 11 July 2024
DOC is urging people to stop feeding kea following a spate of preventable road deaths.

Date: 11 July 2024
Two new smart tools to detect and identify invading predators are now available for use in predator-free projects due to support from DOC’s ‘Tools to Market’ programme.

Date: 11 July 2024
A tiny and rare native wetland plant has been returned to Rotokare Sanctuary in Taranaki, in the culmination of years of partnership and planning.

Date: 10 July 2024
Work to reinstate walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove is underway as the Department of Conservation aims to reopen the popular track for summer 2024-25.

Date: 10 July 2024
New Zealanders will get to enjoy more of our country’s natural beauty including at Cathedral Cove – Mautohe thanks to a $25 million boost for conservation, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced today.

Date: 08 July 2024
DOC staff are deeply frustrated about the lack of pet dog control in the Wellington region, after three kororā/little blue penguins were found dead from suspected dog attacks at Evans Bay Marina last week.

Date: 04 July 2024
Three popular DOC bridges closed for safety last year are expected to reopen this summer following extensive remediation work.

Date: 03 July 2024
Whitebait species inanga/atutahi in the Whanganui River have more space to spawn thanks to restoration at Te Ao Hou marae and neighbouring properties in Aramoho.

Date: 02 July 2024
Three reserves in and around Whakatāne will be temporarily closed for animal control operations during July.

Date: 02 July 2024
DOC has released its visitor activity insights report from the 2023/24 peak summer season, showing international visitor numbers to New Zealand are returning to pre-COVID levels.

Date: 30 June 2024
It is with great sadness that Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro and Ngati Tūwharetoa acknowledge a recent death in Tongariro National Park.

Date: 26 June 2024
Efforts to remove a rat from pest-free Motutapu have been stepped up as nesting season draws closer for several species.

Date: 26 June 2024
DOC is reducing services at the Waikaremoana Holiday Park over the winter.

Date: 20 June 2024
The Department of Conservation’s Maniapoto team is calling on volunteers to contribute a few hours to the protection of kōkako at Mapara.

Date: 20 June 2024
A camera set up by conservation volunteers to monitor a grey-faced petrel/oi burrow near Oakura is showing just how vulnerable the sea birds are, with a plethora of predators visiting the site.

Date: 20 June 2024
Yellow-crowned parakeet/kākāriki numbers in the Landsborough valley tripled last spring compared to the previous year, results of the annual DOC bird count show.

Date: 19 June 2024
Mistletoe abundance has increased more than 3600% per cent over 22 years in Tikitapu Scenic Reserve at Lake Ōkāreka thanks to the efforts of volunteers and staff across multiple organisations.

Date: 19 June 2024
Great Walks bookings have increased as the Heaphy and Lake Waikaremoana tracks return after closures in recent years.

Date: 19 June 2024
Source: Auckland Airport and Department of Conservation
Auckland Airport together with DOC are celebrating the beautiful walks of Aotearoa New Zealand along the airport’s short walk between terminals, known as ‘the green line’.

Date: 18 June 2024
DOC is urging dog owners to ensure they only take dogs where allowed and to keep their dogs under control after two little blue penguins/kororā were killed by dogs.

Date: 17 June 2024
Don’t be surprised if you see New Zealand fur seals in some curious places over coming months.

Date: 11 June 2024
The thrill and skill of fly-fishing across three generations of one family is reflected in the overall winner of this year’s Taupō Fishing District photo competition.

Date: 11 June 2024
DOC is changing the way we operate on the Chatham Islands to improve how we work and boost conservation efforts and resources during the busy summer months.

Date: 06 June 2024
DOC rangers in Whirinaki Te Pua-ā-Tāne Conservation Park have discovered a possible record-breaking roost of threatened long-tailed bats/pekapeka.

Date: 31 May 2024
Source: Office of the Minister for Hunting and Fishing
Technology making it easier for hunters to find animals will be allowed on public conservation land from 1 June, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay has announced.

Date: 29 May 2024
A Golden Bay man has been fined $5250 in relation to his gold mining equipment in Kahurangi National Park being seized by DOC.

Date: 29 May 2024
An extensive thermal aerial survey has not detected wild goats in Tongariro National Park, but the Department of Conservation is calling for the public to stay vigilant.

Date: 28 May 2024
A cohort of kākāpō are settling into a new home on Coal Island/Te Puka-Hereka in Fiordland following a successful translocation on Friday.

Date: 24 May 2024
Research on the West Coast will help taonga freshwater fish like īnanga get past barriers blocking their travel such as culverts and pipes.

Date: 23 May 2024
Kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet have been released onto Oruawairua/Blumine Island for the first time since 2012.

Date: 21 May 2024
A man who leapt from a boat into the water near two orca has been slapped with a $600 infringement in an incident DOC staff say displays a shocking and stupid attitude to protected marine mammals.

Date: 20 May 2024
Recent sightings of a pod of orca and a large sperm whale around Napier have prompted DOC to remind people not to use drones near these animals.

Date: 17 May 2024
A local man has been issued a $600 infringement notice after he caught, killed, and decapitated a great white shark at Mahia Peninsula.

Date: 16 May 2024
Whanganui residents are being urged to dump green waste at appropriate facilities after a spate of “fly tipping” incidents at Gordon Park Scenic Reserve.

Date: 16 May 2024
A date and venues have been confirmed for community drop-in sessions on the options to reinstate walking access to Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove beach.

Date: 14 May 2024
A karakia and blessing by Ngāti Ruanui has marked the formal opening of the suspension bridge over the Manganui Gorge, one of the most striking features of the Taranaki Crossing project on Taranaki Maunga.

Date: 13 May 2024
The Department of Conservation is calling for information after the jawbone of dead sperm whale was illegally removed last week.

Date: 07 May 2024
The largest and most ambitious marine fieldwork season ever undertaken in the New Zealand subantarctic is providing valuable insights on the vulnerable native species living there.

Date: 01 May 2024
One of New Zealand’s rarest birds has suffered another blow due to ongoing predation by feral cats.

Date: 30 April 2024
DOC has announced the options being explored to reinstate walking access to Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove.

Date: 30 April 2024
DOC has announced bookings for New Zealand’s Great Walks will open from 28 May to 6 June for the next season.

Date: 26 April 2024
Two of Northland’s most popular short walks - Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway and Mt Manaia - will be closed temporarily as part of ongoing efforts to repair and enhance infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Date: 24 April 2024
Two rats have been caught just days after DOC set out freshly baited traps on Te Haupa/ Saddle Island north of Auckland.

Date: 23 April 2024
A population of a rare native freshwater fish, sometimes known as 'jaws', was saved in the nick of time after the swift removal of predator trout.

Date: 23 April 2024
Drainage and roofing work is underway to protect the rich history of Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve in Devonport Auckland.

Date: 19 April 2024
DOC is closing its Ōtepoti Dunedin Visitor Centre and will focus on wildlife advocacy in the city in other ways.

Date: 19 April 2024
Tongariro Alpine Crossing’s distinctive Emerald Lakes are weed free again thanks to years of work by Department of Conservation staff.

Date: 18 April 2024
One of our rarest, seldom-seen skinks is even more threatened than we had thought, with fewer than 1000 mature individuals.

Date: 17 April 2024
The Remutaka Conservation Trust is replacing predator traps across their 7500-hectare pest control network in southern Remutaka Forest.

Date: 16 April 2024
Eager anglers are encouraged to enter photos in the Taupō Fishery annual photo competition – and potentially land a full season licence for the world famous Taupō trout fishery.

Date: 16 April 2024
Community and stakeholder activities are the next key steps of DOC’s work to reinstate safe walking access to Cathedral Cove.

Date: 15 April 2024
A team of certified conservation dogs and their handlers are busy intercepting small pests at risk of hitching a ride to the Hauraki Gulf’s pest free islands.

Date: 17 April 2024
A decade-long plan to remove all wild deer from Northland, an area of over 13,000 square kilometres and one of New Zealand’s most biodiverse regions, is being launched jointly by the Northland Regional Council (NRC), DOC, and local hapū.

Date: 09 April 2024
It is with great sadness that Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro and Ngati Tūwharetoa acknowledge a recent death in Tongariro National Park.

Date: 08 April 2024
Non-Great Walk DOC huts, lodges, campsite and cottage bookings are due to begin opening tomorrow, 9 April 2024.

Date: 06 April 2024
Pure Tūroa Limited has been granted a 10-year concession to operate the Tūroa ski-field.

Date: 28 March 2024
A rogue Australian water dragon has been removed from Papaitonga Scenic Reserve near Levin, prompting DOC to remind people not to dump unwanted pets on conservation land.

Date: 28 March 2024
Pakake/sea lions in Dunedin have had the best breeding season on record, with more than 30 pups born.

Date: 27 March 2024
DOC is asking the public for help after a quad biker drove down the Cave Creek Memorial Track/Kotihotiho.

Date: 26 March 2024
DOC and Kaimanawa Heritage Horses are calling for experienced horse owners to rehome some of the more than 200 wild horses from the Waiouru Military Training area during this year’s annual muster.

Date: 26 March 2024
Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara near Stewart Island/Rakiura is rodent free once more, DOC announced today.

Date: 24 March 2024
Read DOC's statement regarding the SailGP in Lyttelton Harbour.

Date: 21 March 2024
A group of quad bike riders has caused extensive damage to a popular walking track in Arthur’s Pass National Park in Canterbury, crushing sensitive vegetation, trashing boardwalks and leaving a trail of empty alcohol cans in their wake.

Date: 21 March 2024
An Argentine ant detection dog has averted a potential disaster on Matiu/Somes Island, after finding a large colony of the invasive pest species near building materials destined for the island’s new wharf.

Date: 21 March 2024
DOC and partners have achieved a breakthrough in endangered species conservation using 3D printed replica eggs to safeguard the nests of the critically endangered fairy tern/tara iti this summer breeding season.

Date: 20 March 2024
DOC is appealing for information from the public after a protected great white shark was found decapitated on Mahia beach on Friday 15 March.

Date: 19 March 2024
DOC is increasing the price of Great Walk facilities.

Date: 15 March 2024
Family members from the Czech Republic were among those who gathered at the old gold mining township of Waiuta today to celebrate the restoration of Jos Divis’ old home.

Date: 14 March 2024
Two bridge masts now tower over the Manganui Gorge as a major feature of the Taranaki Crossing takes shape.

Date: 13 March 2024
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and DOC are reminding people to control dogs in coastal areas after 19 gulls/tarāpunga were found dead at Kaikōura’s South Bay, seemingly killed by a dog or dogs.

Date: 11 March 2024
A ten-day-old toroa/northern royal albatross chick has died from ingesting soft plastic regurgitated by its parent, highlighting the threat plastic pollution poses to our vulnerable seabirds.

Date: 05 March 2024
Analysis of a tissue sample taken from a Hector’s dolphin spotted off the coast of Thames-Coromandel has aided understanding of the species and confirmed where the animals came from.

Date: 04 March 2024
New Zealand’s oldest known long-tailed bat/pekapeka – at 26 years – was recorded this summer as part of a DOC monitoring programme in Fiordland.

Date: 01 March 2024
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has made the reinstatement of the walking access to Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove/Te Whanganui-a-Hei before next summer a priority.

Date: 29 February 2024
DOC's annual Pureora Hunting Competition opens on 16 March and will run through until the prizegiving at the DOC Pureora Field Base on 28 April.

Date: 27 February 2024
More than 25 predator traps have been stolen from the Okura Bush Scenic Reserve on Auckland’s North Shore, shocking conservation group Friends of Okura Bush, Te Kawerau ā Maki and DOC.

Date: 26 February 2024
New Zealand has some of the most spectacular land snails in the world, but they’re sliding to extinction – and climate change is a major factor.

Date: 23 February 2024
The public is being asked to provide crucial, ‘as-it-happens’ evidence that could help identify the cause of mass fish deaths in the Whanganui River catchment.

Date: 22 February 2024
A lone rat has been found dead in a trap on Ulva Island Te Wharawhara, Rakiura triggering an incursion response.

Date: 22 February 2024
New technology and data analysis projects stand out in this year’s successful DOC scholarship applications, reinforcing their potential to supercharge the monitoring and restoration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity.

Date: 21 February 2024
The Mueller Hut Route in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has reopened for day hikers today after a brief closure.

Date: 21 February 2024
The tara iti/New Zealand fairy tern – our most endangered bird with fewer than 40 remaining – has celebrated a record-breaking summer breeding season, thanks to favourable weather conditions and advancements in management practices.

Date: 21 February 2024
DOC will be holding public hearings on Pure Tūroa Limited’s concession application from Thursday 22 February – Tuesday 27 February.

Date: 20 February 2024
An increase in risky, potentially harmful encounters with marine mammals is prompting a call from DOC to the public to give dolphins and whales space on the water.

Date: 16 February 2024
The Pike29 Memorial Track officially opened today with mountain bikers and walkers set to use it for the first time tomorrow.

Date: 16 February 2024
Kiwi numbers are increasing in a remote part of Fiordland for the first time in the history of their conservation, thanks to recent aerial predator control operations.

Date: 15 February 2024
DOC is asking beachgoers and their dogs to give korora/little blue penguins space when they come ashore to moult.

Date: 08 February 2024
Source: Department of Conservation and Save the Kiwi
Owners who prevent their dogs from roaming can sleep easier knowing their dog isn’t in danger.

Date: 08 February 2024
Police are investigating vandalism at Kirwans Hut in Victoria Forest Park near Reefton. The backcountry hut is only accessible via an advanced level tramping track.

Date: 07 February 2024
A pregnant sea lion/pakake has swum about 60km inland to find her preferred spot to give birth, which has not been seen in this species before.

Date: 02 February 2024
A pūteketeke/Australasian crested grebe which needed stomach surgery after swallowing a fishhook has been successfully released back into the wild after a lengthy recovery at Wildlife Hospital Dunedin.

Date: 02 February 2024
DOC is urging people to do their ‘due diligence’ before buying a pet red-eared slider turtle, as they pose a serious threat to native freshwater plants and animals if abandoned.

Date: 01 February 2024
The Awarua-Waituna Wetlands near Invercargill have incredible ecological and cultural value, but, as World Wetlands Day approaches, a concerning algal bloom illustrates wetland vulnerability.

Date: 31 January 2024
Asbestos remediation work at popular Christchurch heritage site Awaroa/Godley Head begins in early February.

Date: 30 January 2024
People driving vehicles through the clearly marked and signposted breeding area of tūturiwhatu/Northern New Zealand dotterel at Thornton Beach in the Eastern Bay of Plenty are damaging the species, says Department of Conservation.

Date: 26 January 2024
DOC is warning people to be cautious around the waters of the Mahia Peninsula, as the remains of stranded whales and dolphins may attract sharks.

Date: 26 January 2024
Areas of public conservation land in the Hakatere, St James, and Molesworth, in the eastern South Island will temporarily close to motorised vehicles due to high fire risk.

Date: 25 January 2024
An Auckland man has been fined $2500 after he was successfully prosecuted for deliberately skippering a speedboat through a flock of protected seabirds – he then shared the video of the incident on social media.

Date: 25 January 2024
The northern royal albatross/toroa which will be seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers around the world has hatched at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head.

Date: 24 January 2024
DOC has announced the work it will undertake to determine viable, safe and resilient long-term solutions for visitor access and experience at Coromandel’s Cathedral Cove.

Date: 23 January 2024
Tūrangi has welcomed a different kind of visitor to its town centre this summer, with endangered black-billed gulls/tarāpuka breeding on the rooftops – but DOC staff say the birds’ residency won’t last.

Date: 22 January 2024
A pod of about 45 false killer whales and bottlenose dolphins stranded on Sunday afternoon at Taylor’s Bay on Mahia Peninsula.

Date: 15 January 2024
Access to Matiu/Somes Island in Wellington will be restricted from February 19, 2024, to allow for the 85-year-old wharf to be rebuilt.

Date: 11 January 2024
DOC and New Zealand Police are reminding four-wheel drive users to stick to formed roads and drive with care this summer.

Date: 10 January 2024
A lucky tawaki/Fiordland crested penguin has been returned to the wild after a narrow escape, lengthy rehab and a cross-country flight.

Date: 10 January 2024
Two Swiss tourists spotted cycling the Tongariro Alpine Crossing have been fined $400 each and had their bikes confiscated by DOC.

Date: 09 January 2024
People heading into Nelson Lakes National Park this summer are being asked to clean their gear at new cleaning stations to prevent invasive algae being spread to the park’s pristine alpine lakes and rivers.

Date: 04 January 2024
Two sea lion pups were recently born at the Chisholm Links golf course, so Dunedin residents are being asked to keep dogs on leads and drive carefully while in the area.