Department of Conservation

Kākābeak/ngutukākā flower

Image: Leon Berard | Creative Commons

What to do if you find a seal

If you find a New Zealand fur seal it's usually best to leave it alone, however, there are exceptions.

28 September 2023

Finding the fish that swam with dinosaurs

Zooming in on a precious, unusual, and poorly understood native freshwater fish, known around the country as lamprey, kanakana and piharau.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing booking system

We encourage visitors to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to book in advance for visits after 14 October.

Whitebaiting

Find out when, where and how to fish for whitebait in New Zealand and the Chatham Islands.

National Wild Goat Hunting Competition

Enter the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition to compete for national and local prizes and help protect the environment.

Weather

Get weather forecasts for national parks and other conservation areas, as well as severe weather warnings, the brief mountain forecast and other weather bulletins.

Book in to protect the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

DOC is introducing a free booking system for the upcoming Tongariro Alpine Crossing season and encouraging all visitors to book in advance.

Matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern killed on Dargaville roads

Two critically threatened matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern were killed on a stretch of State Highway 12 between Rotu Forest and Maitahi, just outside Dargaville in recent weeks.

Hump Ridge Track upgrade extended to October 2024

DOC says the project to upgrade Tuatapere’s Hump Ridge track has been slowed by supply chain delays, weather conditions and arduous terrain.

Many Southern tracks open, but caution advised

Tracks and infrastructure on public conservation land in flood-affected Southland and Otago have held up well but visitors are still advised to exercise caution and keep up to date with relevant information.

Haere mai

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Finding the fish that swam with dinosaurs

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