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2024 media releases

Introduction

View DOC media releases from 2024.
'Deeply disturbing' vandalism of pou whenua along Abel Tasman Coast Track

'Deeply disturbing' vandalism of pou whenua along Abel Tasman Coast Track

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.

Stay fire safe in the outdoors these holidays

Stay fire safe in the outdoors these holidays

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.

New population of critically endangered beetle found

New population of critically endangered beetle found

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.

Let’s care for Aoraki this summer

Let’s care for Aoraki this summer

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.

First GPS-tracked record of long-distance harrier flight

First GPS-tracked record of long-distance harrier flight

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.

Tāne Mahuta reopens with blessing

Tāne Mahuta reopens with blessing

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.

Destruction of protected gulls’ nests leads to hefty fine

Destruction of protected gulls’ nests leads to hefty fine

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.

Shags succeeding in a cold climate

Shags succeeding in a cold climate

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.

New shelters capture the essence of the Whanganui River

New shelters capture the essence of the Whanganui River

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.

Warmer seas chief suspect for seabird ‘wreck’

Warmer seas chief suspect for seabird ‘wreck’

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.

Some Craigieburn tracks closed over holidays due to fire

Some Craigieburn tracks closed over holidays due to fire

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.

Cook Islands’ atoll officially rat free

Cook Islands’ atoll officially rat free

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.

Public feedback sought on Whakapapa Holdings Limited’s concession application

Public feedback sought on Whakapapa Holdings Limited’s concession application

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.

Record wild goat hunting competition removes 12,935 goats

Record wild goat hunting competition removes 12,935 goats

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.

Paparoa Track reopens ahead of schedule

Paparoa Track reopens ahead of schedule

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.

Spade-toothed whale reveals new discoveries

Spade-toothed whale reveals new discoveries

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.

‘Legendary’ conservationist wins award for decades of work protecting plants

‘Legendary’ conservationist wins award for decades of work protecting plants

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.

Rare dolphin spotted in Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour

Rare dolphin spotted in Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour

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

Tara iti breeding season begins

Tara iti breeding season begins

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).

DOC reports 1.25 million annual bednight bookings

DOC reports 1.25 million annual bednight bookings

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.

Last chance for West Coast Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) survey

Last chance for West Coast Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) survey

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.

Work to renew Pouākai Hut underway, re-route in place

Work to renew Pouākai Hut underway, re-route in place

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.

Outstanding legacy for people and the environment at Waikanae

Outstanding legacy for people and the environment at Waikanae

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.

DOC’s focus - Annual Review 2023-24

DOC’s focus - Annual Review 2023-24

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

Paparoa Great Walk partially closed for next two weeks due to slip

Paparoa Great Walk partially closed for next two weeks due to slip

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

Give nesting river birds space this summer

Give nesting river birds space this summer

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

Te Angiangi Marine Reserve review highlights opportunities

Te Angiangi Marine Reserve review highlights opportunities

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

Lone feral cat destroys large tern colony on Waiau Toa/Clarence River

Lone feral cat destroys large tern colony on Waiau Toa/Clarence River

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.

Government to partner with private sector to plant trees on low value Crown land

Government to partner with private sector to plant trees on low value Crown land

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.

Tāne Mahuta reopening on 21 December 2024

Tāne Mahuta reopening on 21 December 2024

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

Raise leg-hold traps to protect Coromandel kiwi

Raise leg-hold traps to protect Coromandel kiwi

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.

Pilot whale stranding at Farewell Spit

Pilot whale stranding at Farewell Spit

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

Mōrere Hot Springs re-awakened - Nga Hua o Mōrere reopening in December

Mōrere Hot Springs re-awakened - Nga Hua o Mōrere reopening in December

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.

Rarest whale in the world to undergo dissection

Rarest whale in the world to undergo dissection

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.

World class visitor centre for Punakaiki

World class visitor centre for Punakaiki

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.

Mautohe Cathedral Cove reopens to walkers

Mautohe Cathedral Cove reopens to walkers

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.

Drone use application process made easier

Drone use application process made easier

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

Dirt bikes a danger on family-friendly tracks

Dirt bikes a danger on family-friendly tracks

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.

Call-out for whitebait catch diaries

Call-out for whitebait catch diaries

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.

New bridge ensures dry feet for Abel Tasman walkers

New bridge ensures dry feet for Abel Tasman walkers

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.

Get on board with Mahi Aroha 2025 to explore, enjoy, and protect nature

Get on board with Mahi Aroha 2025 to explore, enjoy, and protect nature

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.

Ruakākā Beach whale stranding

Ruakākā Beach whale stranding

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

15 popular DOC huts now bookable

15 popular DOC huts now bookable

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.

West Coasters urged to have their say about conservation in Te Tai Poutini West Coast

West Coasters urged to have their say about conservation in Te Tai Poutini West Coast

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.

Temporary closure for Windows Walk

Temporary closure for Windows Walk

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.

Young fur seal makes surprise visit to gas platform

Young fur seal makes surprise visit to gas platform

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

Proposals to modernise conservation released

Proposals to modernise conservation released

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.

One milestone down but trespassers jeopardise Cathedral Cove opening

One milestone down but trespassers jeopardise Cathedral Cove opening

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.

DOC to trial paid parking at high use sites

DOC to trial paid parking at high use sites

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.

Hawke’s Bay fund will ‘fill the trees with birds’

Hawke’s Bay fund will ‘fill the trees with birds’

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.

Soldiers helping DOC on the West Coast

Soldiers helping DOC on the West Coast

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

Rowi kiwi finds a new home

Rowi kiwi finds a new home

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.

First southern dotterel chicks of the season

First southern dotterel chicks of the season

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.

Priority conservation projects open for donations

Priority conservation projects open for donations

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

Auckland’s Te Henga Walkway re-opens to viewing point post-Cyclone Gabrielle

Auckland’s Te Henga Walkway re-opens to viewing point post-Cyclone Gabrielle

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.

Mātiu Somes Island reopening in November

Mātiu Somes Island reopening in November

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.

Ōkārito receives Tohu Whenua status

Ōkārito receives Tohu Whenua status

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.

Summer walking season off to a good start

Summer walking season off to a good start

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.

Packing list: toothbrush, loo roll, honesty

Packing list: toothbrush, loo roll, honesty

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.

Fire response at Whangamarino wetland winds down

Fire response at Whangamarino wetland winds down

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.

Restored pou a tohu for arts and awa revitalisation

Restored pou a tohu for arts and awa revitalisation

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.

Time to get out and explore Tairāwhiti

Time to get out and explore Tairāwhiti

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.

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track becomes New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track becomes New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk

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.

Great albatross season equals record numbers

Great albatross season equals record numbers

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.

Leave Denniston relics where they lie

Leave Denniston relics where they lie

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”.

Rob Roy Glacier bridge open again

Rob Roy Glacier bridge open again

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

Kiwi sightings increase on Heaphy Track

Kiwi sightings increase on Heaphy Track

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.

DOC Northland readies for a busy summer

DOC Northland readies for a busy summer

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

Pest plant species the focus for new phase of Mautohe Cathedral Cove work

Pest plant species the focus for new phase of Mautohe Cathedral Cove work

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.

$9.2 million to empower community conservation

$9.2 million to empower community conservation

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.

Rogue fur seal disrupts Wellingtonian’s Wednesday commute

Rogue fur seal disrupts Wellingtonian’s Wednesday commute

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.

Huge carbon emissions from wetland fires

Huge carbon emissions from wetland fires

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.

Rotoiti a step away from reaping roroa translocation rewards

Rotoiti a step away from reaping roroa translocation rewards

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.

Help shape the future of West Coast conservation

Help shape the future of West Coast conservation

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.

Protecting future kiwi this Save the Kiwi week

Protecting future kiwi this Save the Kiwi week

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.

DOC appalled to find second shot sea lion in Catlins

DOC appalled to find second shot sea lion in Catlins

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.

Beware storm damaged tracks in Otago/Southland

Beware storm damaged tracks in Otago/Southland

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

Submissions open for Te Tapatoru ā Toi Conservation Management Plan final draft

Submissions open for Te Tapatoru ā Toi Conservation Management Plan final draft

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.

Bush to Belly event in Punakaiki celebrates wild goat meat

Bush to Belly event in Punakaiki celebrates wild goat meat

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.

Heavy rain warning in Otago and Southland – DOC urges caution

Heavy rain warning in Otago and Southland – DOC urges caution

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.

Kashmir Road closed for public safety during wilding pine removal

Kashmir Road closed for public safety during wilding pine removal

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.

Auckland Zoo and DOC sign new strategic partnership

Auckland Zoo and DOC sign new strategic partnership

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.

Necropsy confirms sea lion killed with shotgun

Necropsy confirms sea lion killed with shotgun

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.

Auckland’s Motutapu pest free once again

Auckland’s Motutapu pest free once again

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.

Wellingtonians should check roofs to avoid kākā-tastrophe

Wellingtonians should check roofs to avoid kākā-tastrophe

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.

Weeds, browsers are bad news in plant report

Weeds, browsers are bad news in plant report

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.

Takahē on Motutapu have best breeding season ever

Takahē on Motutapu have best breeding season ever

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.

Rainbow valley kea show early signs of breeding success

Rainbow valley kea show early signs of breeding success

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.

Predator control helps rare mountain wren

Predator control helps rare mountain wren

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.

William Hartree Memorial Lodge opening for bookings

William Hartree Memorial Lodge opening for bookings

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

Hawksbill turtle beached on Aotea, brought to Auckland Zoo

Hawksbill turtle beached on Aotea, brought to Auckland Zoo

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.

Shot sea lion a blow to recovering population

Shot sea lion a blow to recovering population

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.

Watch out for wild turtles

Watch out for wild turtles

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’.

Public asked for sightings of pygmy blue whale freed from Kawau wharf

Public asked for sightings of pygmy blue whale freed from Kawau wharf

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.

Whale stranded on Kawau – call for public to stay away

Whale stranded on Kawau – call for public to stay away

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.

Project launched to protect Tāne Mahuta and transform Waipoua Forest

Project launched to protect Tāne Mahuta and transform Waipoua Forest

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.

10th anniversary of West Coast marine reserves marked

10th anniversary of West Coast marine reserves marked

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

Carpark closure to allow for Mautohe Cathedral Cove work

Carpark closure to allow for Mautohe Cathedral Cove work

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.

New priorities to protect future of conservation

New priorities to protect future of conservation

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.

IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand

IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand

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.

Now hear this! The Great Matuku Muster a call to action

Now hear this! The Great Matuku Muster a call to action

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.

West Coast Conservation Week event in Punakaiki

West Coast Conservation Week event in Punakaiki

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.

Awaroa/Godley Head reopens after remediation for contamination

Awaroa/Godley Head reopens after remediation for contamination

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

Take action for wetlands this Conservation Week

Take action for wetlands this Conservation Week

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.

New research initiatives to boost tara iti conservation efforts

New research initiatives to boost tara iti conservation efforts

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.

Tree removal marks start of track reinstatement work

Tree removal marks start of track reinstatement work

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.

Best results ever for predator control

Best results ever for predator control

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

Rapid growth for weeds list

Rapid growth for weeds list

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.

Hi-tech trials boost research on native forest carbon stocks

Hi-tech trials boost research on native forest carbon stocks

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.

Rain no deterrent as Mapara baiting gets underway

Rain no deterrent as Mapara baiting gets underway

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.

Keeping safe this whitebaiting season

Keeping safe this whitebaiting season

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.

Takahē thrive in new wild home on Ngāi Tahu whenua in Ōtākou/Otago

Takahē thrive in new wild home on Ngāi Tahu whenua in Ōtākou/Otago

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.

Rare basking shark found in South Westland

Rare basking shark found in South Westland

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.

Successful kakī season sees bumper release

Successful kakī season sees bumper release

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.

Threatened dabchick victim of dog attack

Threatened dabchick victim of dog attack

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

New camera trial sheds light on forest canopy health

New camera trial sheds light on forest canopy health

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.

Actions for nature matter this Conservation Week

Actions for nature matter this Conservation Week

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.

Te Araroa Trail Pass to be introduced this summer

Te Araroa Trail Pass to be introduced this summer

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

Submissions open on future of conservation in Far North (Te Hiku)

Submissions open on future of conservation in Far North (Te Hiku)

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.

DOC appeals for leads on gull carnage at Pukehina

DOC appeals for leads on gull carnage at Pukehina

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.

The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition is back for 2024

The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition is back for 2024

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.

Two Hawke’s Bay sites re-open to public

Two Hawke’s Bay sites re-open to public

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.

Whanganui whānau in it for the whenua

Whanganui whānau in it for the whenua

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.

Large Lake Kaniere matai to be felled

Large Lake Kaniere matai to be felled

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.

Ohinetonga Northern loop restored

Ohinetonga Northern loop restored

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.

East Coast tracks fared well in recent weather

East Coast tracks fared well in recent weather

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.

Rats caught in act, preying on ‘protein pearls’

Rats caught in act, preying on ‘protein pearls’

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

World’s rarest whale washes ashore in Otago

World’s rarest whale washes ashore in Otago

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

Five kea killed by vehicles on Milford Road

Five kea killed by vehicles on Milford Road

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

New AI predator detection tools available

New AI predator detection tools available

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.

Rotokare welcomes rare native plant in special “homecoming”

Rotokare welcomes rare native plant in special “homecoming”

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.

Track reinstatement work to begin at Mautohe Cathedral Cove

Track reinstatement work to begin at Mautohe Cathedral Cove

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.

$25 million boost for conservation

$25 million boost for conservation

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.

DOC frustrated by “completely avoidable” dog attacks on penguins

DOC frustrated by “completely avoidable” dog attacks on penguins

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.

Wānaka bridges expected to reopen this summer

Wānaka bridges expected to reopen this summer

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

Whitebait habitat a community effort

Whitebait habitat a community effort

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.

Temporary Whakatāne reserve closures in July

Temporary Whakatāne reserve closures in July

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

Local and international visitors delight in nature as numbers increase

Local and international visitors delight in nature as numbers increase

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.

Rāhui on eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu

Rāhui on eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu

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.

Hunt for rogue rat steps up on Motutapu

Hunt for rogue rat steps up on Motutapu

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.

Waikaremoana Holiday Park winter hours

Waikaremoana Holiday Park winter hours

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

Call for volunteers on Mapara baiting work

Call for volunteers on Mapara baiting work

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.

Volunteers help protect petrels from predators

Volunteers help protect petrels from predators

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.

Kākāriki baby boom boosts bird count

Kākāriki baby boom boosts bird count

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.

Mistletoe numbers grow thanks to volunteers

Mistletoe numbers grow thanks to volunteers

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.

Great Walk bookings rise but spaces left

Great Walk bookings rise but spaces left

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

Celebrating walks of New Zealand along new AKL walkway

Celebrating walks of New Zealand along new AKL walkway

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’.

Own a dog? Know the rules

Own a dog? Know the rules

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.

DOC prepares for seal season

DOC prepares for seal season

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

Taupō photo comp winner hooks a season licence

Taupō photo comp winner hooks a season licence

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.

Restructure of DOC team on Chatham Island

Restructure of DOC team on Chatham Island

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.

Predator control comes home to roost for Whirinaki pekapeka

Predator control comes home to roost for Whirinaki pekapeka

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.

Handheld thermal tech now allowed on public conservation land

Handheld thermal tech now allowed on public conservation land

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.

Man sentenced over gold mining equipment in Kahurangi National Park

Man sentenced over gold mining equipment in Kahurangi National Park

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.

No goats detected in Tongariro National Park, but no time for complacency

No goats detected in Tongariro National Park, but no time for complacency

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.

Kākāpō test out new island home

Kākāpō test out new island home

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.

Baffling problem, baffling solution

Baffling problem, baffling solution

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.

Rare parakeet released on Oruawairua/Blumine Island

Rare parakeet released on Oruawairua/Blumine Island

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

Orca ‘body slam’ shocks DOC, leads to infringement fine

Orca ‘body slam’ shocks DOC, leads to infringement fine

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.

Respect orca by keeping drones at a distance

Respect orca by keeping drones at a distance

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.

Man fined over shark decapitation

Man fined over shark decapitation

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.

Green waste a weed risk for Whanganui parks

Green waste a weed risk for Whanganui parks

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 and venues confirmed for Cathedral Cove drop-in sessions

Date and venues confirmed for Cathedral Cove drop-in sessions

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.

Karakia marks formal opening of suspension bridge on the Taranaki Maunga

Karakia marks formal opening of suspension bridge on the Taranaki Maunga

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.

DOC and iwi seek info on stolen whale jawbone

DOC and iwi seek info on stolen whale jawbone

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

Largest subantarctic field season wraps up

Largest subantarctic field season wraps up

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.

Southern New Zealand dotterels decline by 19 per cent

Southern New Zealand dotterels decline by 19 per cent

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

Walking access reinstatement options announced for Cathedral Cove

Walking access reinstatement options announced for Cathedral Cove

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

Get ready for Great Walks bookings to open

Get ready for Great Walks bookings to open

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.

Temporary closure of Northland tracks for cyclone recovery

Temporary closure of Northland tracks for cyclone recovery

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.

DOC response to pest incursion on Te Haupa/Saddle Island in full swing

DOC response to pest incursion on Te Haupa/Saddle Island in full swing

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.

'Jaws' narrowly escape local extinction

'Jaws' narrowly escape local extinction

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.

Maintenance works commence at Fort Takapuna

Maintenance works commence at Fort Takapuna

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

DOC Ōtepoti Visitor Centre to close

DOC Ōtepoti Visitor Centre to close

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

Emerald Lakes freed from weeds

Emerald Lakes freed from weeds

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.

Canterbury spotted skink in serious trouble

Canterbury spotted skink in serious trouble

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.

Replacing traps for a kiwi-friendly future

Replacing traps for a kiwi-friendly future

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

Fishing for Taupō photographs

Fishing for Taupō photographs

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.

Information and data activities inform Cathedral Cove project

Information and data activities inform Cathedral Cove project

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.

Pest detection dog teams kept busy in City of Sails

Pest detection dog teams kept busy in City of Sails

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.

Preserving Northland’s unique biodiversity: working towards a deer-free future

Preserving Northland’s unique biodiversity: working towards a deer-free future

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.

Pānui: Rāhui, Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Pānui: Rāhui, Tongariro Alpine Crossing

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.

DOC huts, lodges and campsite bookings open tomorrow

DOC huts, lodges and campsite bookings open tomorrow

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

Pure Tūroa Limited to operate Tūroa ski field

Pure Tūroa Limited to operate Tūroa ski field

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

Here (should not) be dragons

Here (should not) be dragons

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.

Record sea lion pup numbers in Dunedin

Record sea lion pup numbers in Dunedin

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

Quad bikers damage Paparoa National Park

Quad bikers damage Paparoa National Park

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

DOC’s urgent call to rehome Kaimanawa wild horses

DOC’s urgent call to rehome Kaimanawa wild horses

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.

Ulva Island rodent free once more

Ulva Island rodent free once more

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

DOC statement: SailGP Lyttelton

DOC statement: SailGP Lyttelton

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

Quad bikers trash national park track

Quad bikers trash national park track

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.

Conservation dog saves Matiu/Somes Island from potential “antpocalypse”

Conservation dog saves Matiu/Somes Island from potential “antpocalypse”

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.

Replica eggs save endangered tara iti nests

Replica eggs save endangered tara iti nests

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.

Decapitated great white shark highlights concerns at Mahia

Decapitated great white shark highlights concerns at Mahia

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.

Changes to Great Walk prices and DOC discount policies

Changes to Great Walk prices and DOC discount policies

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

Jos Divis cottage restoration celebrated

Jos Divis cottage restoration celebrated

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.

Massive masts raised as bridge begins to take shape

Massive masts raised as bridge begins to take shape

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

Dog attack believed to have killed 19 gulls in Kaikōura

Dog attack believed to have killed 19 gulls in Kaikōura

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.

Toroa/albatross chick dies from swallowing plastic

Toroa/albatross chick dies from swallowing plastic

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.

Thames coast dolphin information aids species understanding

Thames coast dolphin information aids species understanding

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.

26-year-old bat could be New Zealand’s oldest

26-year-old bat could be New Zealand’s oldest

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.

Work on Cathedral Cove a priority

Work on Cathedral Cove a priority

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.

Dates confirmed for annual Pureora Hunting Competition

Dates confirmed for annual Pureora Hunting Competition

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.

Conservationists shocked at theft of predator traps at Okura Bush

Conservationists shocked at theft of predator traps at Okura Bush

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.

Native snails heading for extinction

Native snails heading for extinction

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.

Public could help solve mass fish death mystery

Public could help solve mass fish death mystery

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.

Rat caught on Ulva island, incursion response in place

Rat caught on Ulva island, incursion response in place

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

Scholarship boosts biodiversity tech potential

Scholarship boosts biodiversity tech potential

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.

Mueller Hut Route reopens to day hikers

Mueller Hut Route reopens to day hikers

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

Sunny skies, new methods: Tara iti thrives, New Zealand's rarest bird

Sunny skies, new methods: Tara iti thrives, New Zealand's rarest bird

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.

Pure Tūroa Limited’s public hearings to begin

Pure Tūroa Limited’s public hearings to begin

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

Complaints from public rise as boats, jetskis get too close to ocean animals

Complaints from public rise as boats, jetskis get too close to ocean animals

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.

Pike29 Memorial Track opens

Pike29 Memorial Track opens

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.

Remote kiwi population growing for first time in conservation history

Remote kiwi population growing for first time in conservation history

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.

Leave moulting penguins alone - DOC

Leave moulting penguins alone - DOC

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

Where’s your dog at? Call to keep dogs safe by not letting them roam

Where’s your dog at? Call to keep dogs safe by not letting them roam

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.

Police investigating hut vandalism

Police investigating hut vandalism

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.

Long trip inland for sea lion to give birth

Long trip inland for sea lion to give birth

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.

Pūteketeke released after stomach surgery for swallowed fish hook

Pūteketeke released after stomach surgery for swallowed fish hook

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.

Turtle time is a long time

Turtle time is a long time

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.

Waituna wetland’s vulnerability in the spotlight

Waituna wetland’s vulnerability in the spotlight

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.

Awaroa/Godley Head remediation work to begin

Awaroa/Godley Head remediation work to begin

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

At risk shorebirds threatened by vehicles

At risk shorebirds threatened by vehicles

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.

DOC says sharks may visit mass stranding site in Mahia, caution urged

DOC says sharks may visit mass stranding site in Mahia, caution urged

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.

Fire risk temporarily restricts vehicle access to some South Island conservation areas

Fire risk temporarily restricts vehicle access to some South Island conservation areas

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.

Man sentenced for skippering vessel into flock of protected seabirds

Man sentenced for skippering vessel into flock of protected seabirds

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.

Royal Cam toroa/albatross chick hatches at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head

Royal Cam toroa/albatross chick hatches at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head

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.

Work programme announced for Cathedral Cove options development

Work programme announced for Cathedral Cove options development

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.

Tūrangi gulls are short-term visitors

Tūrangi gulls are short-term visitors

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.

Whale stranding at Mahia Peninsula

Whale stranding at Mahia Peninsula

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.

Matiu Somes Island wharf to be rebuilt

Matiu Somes Island wharf to be rebuilt

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.

4WD with care this summer

4WD with care this summer

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.

Lucky penguin released after rehab

Lucky penguin released after rehab

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.

Mountain bikers fined over Tongariro Alpine Crossing rule breach

Mountain bikers fined over Tongariro Alpine Crossing rule breach

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.

DOC call to help prevent the spread of invasive algae to lakes and rivers

DOC call to help prevent the spread of invasive algae to lakes and rivers

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.

Keep sea lion pups safe around Dunedin

Keep sea lion pups safe around Dunedin

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.