DOC is reminding the public to leave seals/kekeno alone to rest at this time of year and not be alarmed if they seem vulnerable or unwell. "This is seal pup season," says DOC Christchurch Biodiversity Ranger, Jenna Thoms. "We need to let nature take its course, these seals need rest not rescuing." More seals are... Continue Reading →
High up on the hills behind Westport is the last unmodified coal field habitat in New Zealand. This harsh environment is home to a wide range of rare species including the great spotted kiwi. Currently the area is threatened by a proposed open cast mine. Click here to see what Forest & Bird have been... Continue Reading →
Multiple offenders appeared in Rotorua District Court following prosecution for stealing wood from public reserves. The prosecutions are the result of community involvement and increased surveillance to address the theft of trees and wood from public conservation land. Scenic reserves administered by DOC under the Reserves Act 1977 are to protect and preserve areas of... Continue Reading →
A proposed new opencast coal mine on West Coast reserve and conservation land would push threatened species, including the great spotted kiwi, closer to extinction. A resource consent hearing begins in Westport on Monday 18 September to consider Stevenson Mining Limited’s proposed Te Kuha mine, which would remove a mountaintop visible from Westport. On Monday... Continue Reading →
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry and Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner have presented traps to two community groups at a Predator Free 2050 event in Christchurch today. The Little River Trap Library and Lyttelton Primary School were given more than 50 traps and bait worth about $8000 for their work to control rats, possums and stoats... Continue Reading →
Starting today (12 September), New Zealand conservation groups committed to broad scale predator eradication are encouraged to lodge an expression of interest for funding and support from Predator Free 2050 Ltd. The organisation – tasked with eradicating possums, rats and stoats from New Zealand by 2050 is seeking Expressions of Interest from regional and local... Continue Reading →
Abel Tasman and Kahurangi national parks are now connected by a 169-hectare block of land purchased by the Nature Heritage Fund, Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner announced today. The land, purchased for $275,000, has high ecological value and will be added to Abel Tasman National Park. “The purchase of this land completes a chain of... Continue Reading →
Frogs are the big winners after the 1080 operation in Whareorino. The battle of the frogs has been won at Whareorino for the meantime with rat numbers tumbling to very low numbers following a successful 1080 operation. Rat monitoring following the aerial control programme failed to find any rats, with possums now at 1% after... Continue Reading →
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has today started the process of finding out from New Zealanders where they want DOCs next Great Walks to be. "DOC is adding two new Great Walks to its existing 9 multi-day hikes to cater to the increasing number of visitors who want to connect with nature and walk through our... Continue Reading →
