2018 media releases

Date: 21 December 2018
A 12 metre humpback whale has died overnight after being reported stranded in Kaiaua in the west side of the Firth of Thames yesterday.

Date: 21 December 2018
DOC says the Fox Glacier access road and the track to the Fox Glacier viewpoint are now open.

Date: 20 December 2018
The woody scent of pine wafting through your house is part of the magic of Christmas, but local conservationists are working hard to ensure pine trees are enjoyed in the right place.

Date: 19 December 2018
Source: Department of Conservation and Biosecurity New Zealand
Check your local myrtle plants this summer to help track the spread of the fungal disease myrtle rust.

Date: 19 December 2018
DOC is appealing for information after six headless fur seal pups were found in a remote but popular Christchurch bay.

Date: 19 December 2018
A study has found use of the protein-based Vespex wasp bait for control of German and common wasps does not harm bee colonies.

Date: 19 December 2018
Aerial 1080 pest control operation to help restore bird life and regenerate forest destroyed by pests at Rakaumangamanga / Cape Brett and Russell Forest has had successful results, with post operation pest figures significantly lower than expected.

Date: 18 December 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Scientific evidence in a new report on long-term wetland loss in Southland shows our wetlands urgently need better protection, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says.

Date: 17 December 2018
Aucklanders have an unexpected Christmas guest on the beach, in the form of an elephant seal.

Date: 17 December 2018
The Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage, visited pest-free island Moutohorā to meet with Te Tapatoru ā Toi.

Date: 17 December 2018
One of New Zealand’s rarest birds, the New Zealand fairy tern / tara-iti, has been boosted by a chick successfully hatching at Pakiri, North of Auckland over the weekend (15 December).

Date: 17 December 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage, in launching a new visitor behaviour campaign, says DOC is well prepared for a busy summer with more resources to respond to growing domestic and international visitor numbers.

Date: 16 December 2018
A new plan to reverse the decline of all five kiwi species was launched by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage at a kiwi release on Taranaki Mounga today.

Date: 14 December 2018
A new population of rowi kiwi is in the making for mainland New Zealand after an historic release near Fox Glacier.

Date: 14 December 2018
DOC rangers were confronted by the complete disappearance of signage along a 3 km stretch of road at historic Te Toto Gorge, near Raglan, last week.

Date: 13 December 2018
The body of a juvenile dolphin, thought to be a Māui dolphin, has been found washed up on an Auckland beach.

Date: 13 December 2018
DOC is reminding dog owners to control their dogs on beaches after a little blue penguin/kororā was killed by two dogs

Date: 13 December 2018
Three tracks on Great Barrier Island (Aotea Island) will be closed as of 31 January 2019 due to kauri dieback, the DOC’s GBI Office can confirm.

Date: 11 December 2018
Source: Te Ruapekapeka Trust
Te Ruapekapeka Trust and DOC have signed the Te Ruapekapeka Pā and Battlefield Strategy and Plan, to protect the mana whenua and taha wairua of the Ruapekapeka Pā.

Date: 07 December 2018
Two West Coast sites today became part of Tohu Whenua, a programme identifying places of historic and cultural significance

Date: 07 December 2018
Visitors to Doubtful Sound/Patea will notice new faces throughout the fiord with the instalment of individually carved poupou marine reserve markers – Te poupou o Rua o Te Moko.

Date: 06 December 2018
DOC advises the planned Te Āpiti – Manawatū Gorge Battle for our Birds pest control operation will not happen this year.

Date: 06 December 2018
Four New Zealand artists are set to be inspired by New Zealand’s natural environment and cultural heritage.

Date: 05 December 2018
Seven critically endangered shore plover chicks have hatched on pest-free Motutapu island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 05 December 2018
DOC says work to reinstate valley floor foot and vehicle access to Fox Glacier will begin shortly.

Date: 03 December 2018
Restoring birdlife to Maungaharuru as part of the Poutiri Ao ō Tāne project was celebrated on Saturday.

Date: 28 November 2018
An expert sniffer-dog has scoured Kāpiti Island for any sign of Argentine ants and given it the all-clear.

Date: 01 December 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Community organisations, iwi and landholders will be able to apply for grants from an $8 million conservation fund to help save our native plants, birds and insects and habitats, Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 30 November 2018
DOC has been dealing with a mass stranding of whales overnight at Chatham Islands.

Date: 30 November 2018
DOC says yesterday’s tragic accident where a climber was killed by an avalanche and another was rescued highlights the risks involved in exploring New Zealand’s mountains.

Date: 29 November 2018
DOC says the newly announced $5.6 million Provincial Growth Fund investment at the Ōparara Valley in Kahurangi National Park will ensure the natural heritage arches and cave ecosystems of the area are protected for future generations.

Date: 28 November 2018
Achieving a predator free New Zealand will allow our native wildlife and forests the chance to survive and thrive once again.

Date: 28 November 2018
A leopard seal has made a rare visit to Hokitika Beach, near Kaihinu, and people are being asked to report sightings to DOC and keep a safe distance.

Date: 27 November 2018
DOC is working to refloat eight pygmy killer whales that have stranded in Northland.

Date: 27 November 2018
A little blue penguin entangled in a fishing line is a reminder that rubbish in the ocean and on beaches is a threat to marine life.

Date: 26 November 2018
Up to 145 pilot whales have stranded and died on a remote beach on Rakiura/Stewart Island over the weekend.

Date: 26 November 2018
Dunedin’s Royal Albatross Centre is preparing for a possible influx of albatross chicks following a record number of eggs being laid this year.

Date: 24 November 2018
Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro, Ngāti Tuwharetoa and DOC acknowledge with sadness the fatality on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing today. A rāhui (prohibition) has been placed on the crossing until sunrise 27 November 2018.

Date: 23 November 2018
DOC would like to acknowledge and thank all the contributions made by Whanganui volunteers. Conservation is everybody’s business, working together we’re getting more done.

Date: 23 November 2018
DOC is looking at options for reinstating access to the Fox Glacier Valley after heavy rain in early November triggered a massive landslide that blocked the river and caused extensive damage to the access causeway.

Date: 22 November 2018
The undersea creatures of Kapiti Marine Reserve have technology on their side.

Date: 22 November 2018
New test results have detected no sign of kauri dieback disease close to Tāne Mahuta, although a further two positive records have been confirmed in the wider area. One is near the site sampled in June 2018.

Date: 22 November 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage and Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash today announced an important step forward on work to restore the health of the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 21 November 2018
Daphne Hut, a 12 bunk hut on the eastern side of the Ruahine Forest Park, has received a much needed ‘do-up’, thanks to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Date: 21 November 2018
10 tracks in Tauranga will be temporarily closed while they are upgraded to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease. One track will also be temporarily closed in Waikato.

Date: 20 November 2018
Predator-free Blumine Island/Oruawairua in Queen Charlotte Sound has had extra protection from predators thanks to the assistance of Outward Bound students.

Date: 19 November 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
New Zealand and Chile will help protect vulnerable seabirds, including the critically endangered Antipodean albatross.

Date: 16 November 2018
A series of working bees are being held in the Catchpool Valley, near Wellington to spruce up the popular facilities for summer.

Date: 17 November 2018
DOC is adopting new tactics to protect wildlife by encouraging dog owners to better control their dogs on beaches and coastlines.

Date: 13 November 2018
The pitter patter of little takahē feet is on the cards at Kahurangi National Park after the first eggs of the new wild population have been found.

Date: 12 November 2018
Ongoing improvements of pest control efforts led to Sanctuary and New Zealand-firsts.

Date: 12 November 2018
Catlins campers once again have a dedicated responsible camping ranger helping educate them on appropriate places to camp this summer.

Date: 07 November 2018
DOC says it welcomes the arrest of a man over threats made against staff, saying this particular case has been harrowing.

Date: 06 November 2018
DOC Biodiversity Ranger Scott Theobald, who was one of three men killed in a tragic helicopter crash on 18 October, has been honoured at the Public Service Day Awards.

Date: 05 November 2018
DOC is cancelling its balloted tahr hunting opportunities for recreational hunters in Wilderness areas and Westland Tai Poutini National Park this summer.

Date: 05 November 2018
Five talented young New Zealanders will be packing their bags and heading into the environment this summer after each winning a Blake DOC Ambassador Award.

Date: 05 November 2018
Walking and road access to Fox Glacier Valley is restricted currently due to heavy rain over the weekend (November 3 and 4) triggering a large landslip that has caused the river to flow over the road.

Date: 03 November 2018
Visitors to Ōtamahua/Quail Island in Te Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour will now be able to stay overnight.

Date: 02 November 2018
Iwi and DOC are saddened, that despite hours of efforts to save a stranded southern bottlenose whale at Port Waikato, the whale has died.

Date: 31 October 2018
October 2018 marks 20 years of the world-famous Poor Knights Marine Reserve, 22 km off Whangarei.

Date: 31 October 2018
DOC has extended the public submission period for the draft Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini national park management plans.

Date: 29 October 2018
To boost the population of rare and threatened bird species living in the Hurunui River, control work is starting this week to reduce the numbers of southern black backed gulls, which prey on threatened chicks and their nests.

Date: 29 October 2018
Water sample results for a recent aerial 1080 operation in Russell Forest have come back clear, with no detectable 1080 in the tested waterways after 39 hours.

Date: 25 October 2018
DOC is working closely with the families of senior rangers Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobald on the arrangements for their funerals.

Date: 25 October 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage is inviting everyone with an interest in whitebait to share their views on whitebait management in an online survey and/or at drop-in sessions around the country.

Date: 25 October 2018
Whio numbers in the Oparara Whio Security Site, north of Westport on the West Coast of the South Island will be supercharged with a captive breeding programme starting this year.

Date: 24 October 2018
DOC is investigating after a dead leopard seal was found with what appears to be a bullet wound to the head/neck on a Southland beach.

Date: 19 October 2018
The loss of two colleagues is keenly felt around DOC today, as the men who died in Wanaka were well-known members of the DOC family.

Date: 18 October 2018
DOC is rallying around family and colleagues of the staff who died in a helicopter crash this morning in Wanaka.

Date: 18 October 2018
A record number of whio ducklings hatched in the 2017-2018 season is a welcome increase to the endangered population.

Date: 18 October 2018
One of New Zealand’s rarest birds, the New Zealand fairy tern, has surprised DOC rangers by producing eggs in October.

Date: 18 October 2018
On 28 September 2018 a Whangarei man was convicted of two offences under the Marine Reserves Act 1971.

Date: 18 October 2018
DOC is re-opening all tracks in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve in the Waitakere Ranges following an extensive track upgrade to prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Date: 17 October 2018
DOC will close six walking tracks in the northern Kaimai Mamaku conservation park to protect kauri from the devastating kauri dieback disease.

Date: 17 October 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today announced that the DOC will close 21 tracks across kauri land to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Date: 16 October 2018
The Pouakai crossing between Razorback and Kokowai tracks in New Plymouth will remain closed until a hazardous slip is stabilised.

Date: 16 October 2018
DOC will begin tahr control this week following the release of its operational plan outlining how it will work with the hunting sector to reduce tahr numbers in the central South Island.

Date: 15 October 2018
The DOC Taupo Fishery Management team addresses concerns anglers may have about the impacts of the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill on salmon and trout fishing in New Zealand.

Date: 12 October 2018
DOC rangers and volunteers continue to hit the beach on a mission to educate beach-goers on giving wildlife space.

Date: 12 October 2018
Source: Air New Zealand and DOC
Air New Zealand and DOC have further strengthened their partnership and commitment to New Zealand’s biodiversity with the funding of a four year, $400,000 project on the Paparoa Track, the site of the newest Great Walk.

Date: 11 October 2018
Source: Kiwis for kiwi
Join DOC and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio for morning tea and meet New Zealand’s rarest kiwi before they are released back into Haast Tokoeka Sanctuary.

Date: 10 October 2018
Source: DOC and New Zealand Police
After a tragic death on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, DOC and New Zealand Police are encouraging people to help our visitors stay safe in the outdoors.

Date: 10 October 2018
Newly-designed parrot excluders will be fitted to Goodnature A24 automatic traps as a precaution to ensure kea aren't unintentionally harmed.

Date: 09 October 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
A new national strategy will be developed to address the critical state of our indigenous biodiversity, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today at Napier’s Ahuriri Estuary.

Date: 09 October 2018
DOC is putting immediate restrictions on all beehive movements on public conservation land in a bid to contain the spread of the fungal disease myrtle rust.

Date: 08 October 2018
Eight people were sentenced recently in the Gisborne District Court for taking sea life from Te Tapuwae Rongokako Marine Reserve.

Date: 08 October 2018
Flat hunting season in Wellington usually starts with the students in February. However, this year kākā breeding activity is bringing a wave of unwanted intruders into Wellington properties.

Date: 05 October 2018
Blood poisoning resulting from birthing complications is the likely cause of death for a suspected Māui dolphin that washed up on a beach north of Raglan.

Date: 05 October 2018
Source: Wildbase Recovery
Seven years of community work were recognised this afternoon at the formal celebration of Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery, New Zealand's first specialised wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Date: 04 October 2018
DOC is encouraging responsible dog control after a seal pup was attacked and killed by an off leash dog in Napier.

Date: 04 October 2018
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a popular hike but it is also dangerous.

Date: 03 October 2018
DOC has made no decision on the detail of an operational control plan to reduce the tahr population over the next eight months, despite recent hunter commentary.

Date: 03 October 2018
The 2018/19 Great Walks season opens this month, and DOC is reminding people with bookings to be prepared ahead of their trip.

Date: 03 October 2018
High rat numbers in the Pukaha Forest are threatening rare native birds prompting increased pest control measures by DOC and the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board.

Date: 02 October 2018
It is with sadness that Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro, Ngāti Tuwharetoa acknowledge the fatality on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. A rāhui (prohibition) has been placed on the crossing until 6 October 2018.

Date: 02 October 2018
Source: Maritime New Zealand and Department of Conservation
A French cruise company and ship's Master have been fined $70,000 and $30,000 respectively following an incident in the Subantarctic islands.

Date: 02 October 2018
The death of a suspected Māui dolphin 20 km north of Raglan has been met with sadness.

Date: 28 September 2018
An agreement describing public access through Hunter Valley Station has been signed by DOC and Orange Lakes (NZ) Ltd.

Date: 27 September 2018
DOC is taking the extraordinary step of having its post operation investigation of the Mapara aerial 1080 operation independently reviewed to provide public confidence in delivery operations.

Date: 24 September 2018
DOC is asking everyone to watch out for nesting shorebirds on our rivers this spring and summer.

Date: 23 September 2018
It is with sadness that the iwi of Ruapehu acknowledge the fatal accident where a hiker fell in to Te Wai ā-moe (crater lake) and a temporary rāhui (prohibition) has been placed on the area.

Date: 21 September 2018
It’s now easier than ever to get your tamariki into nature because there’s a brand new Kiwi Guardian adventure site launching at Pukenui Forest as part of this year’s Conservation Week.

Date: 20 September 2018
A blessing to kick-start the restoration of Lake Whangape in Waikato’s north was held today following signing of a multi-agency agreement in July of this year.

Date: 19 September 2018
Kākāpō fans around the world can now take a virtual tour of the critically endangered parrot’s homes on New Zealand’s rarely-visited Whenua Hou / Codfish and Anchor Islands.

Date: 18 September 2018
DOC is stepping up efforts to control Himalayan tahr across the central South Island as numbers have reached destructive levels.

Date: 18 September 2018
DOC is investigating the deaths of eight cattle following a successful pest control operation in Mapara.

Date: 17 September 2018
Members of the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust discovered pesticides that filled 12 bait stations within the Ōtanewainuku Forest were stolen.

Date: 14 September 2018
Powell Hut will be closed to all users from 1 November 2018 until 30 April 2019 for the existing hut to be demolished and a new hut re-built.

Date: 13 September 2018
The operation to remove rats from Rakitū island, off the east coast of Aotea / Great Barrier Island, has resumed today.

Conservation Week regional media releases for 2018.

Date: 13 September 2018
A dog has attacked a a New Zealand fur seal/kekeno on The Pines/Kairaki beach.

Date: 12 September 2018
Dogs and their owners are being invited to participate in penguin and weka avoidance training in Hokitika as a part of Conservation Week on the 22 and 23 September.

Date: 11 September 2018
Seven tracks in the Bay of Islands will be temporarily closed while they are upgraded to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Date: 10 September 2018
Source: DOC and Auckland Council
A powhiri has been held this morning to welcome DOC staff into their new home at Auckland Council’s Te Wharau o Horotiu – Bledisloe House, 24 Wellesley Street.

Date: 08 September 2018
DOC is seeking the views of the public on draft management plans for Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks.

Date: 07 September 2018
DOC is fully committed to the use of 1080 to protect our forests and native wildlife in the face of the current campaign of misinformation and is joined by other agencies in standing up for the use of this pesticide.

Date: 07 September 2018
An adult humpback whale has become entangled in ropes attached to what is thought to be a crayfish pot. The whale is located at Kingfish Reef, off Deep Water Cove, southern Bay of Islands.

Date: 07 September 2018
Source: Department of Conservation and Te Taura Whiri
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori and DOC have come together to produce a learning resource "Kia Kaha te Reo Taiao" in celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2018.

Date: 06 September 2018
DOC has announced the Paparoa Track will now open in September 2019, rather than next April.

Date: 27 August 2018
Marine life at Wellington’s Taputeranga Marine Reserve has flourished in the decade since it was created, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said yesterday.

Date: 23 August 2018
DOC and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are working together to create safer nesting sites for the New Zealand fairy tern, one of the country’s rarest native birds.

Date: 23 August 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
New Zealand’s pepeketua/native frog species remain in trouble, according to the latest report on the conservation status of New Zealand’s amphibian species.

Date: 23 August 2018
New Zealand is closer towards expanding the family of Great Walks, with the announcement of three walks under consideration to become part of the Great Walks network.

Date: 20 August 2018
DOC is seeking information about an injured leopard seal believed to have been attacked by a dog in Porirua at the weekend.

Date: 17 August 2018
DOC is asking people not to feed New Zealand fur seals/kekeno after reports of a pup being fed by the public in Napier.

Date: 16 August 2018
Source: Department of Conservation and Waikato Regional Council
Waikato Regional Council and DOC jointly sponsor the Arthur Hinds scholarship for a summer student to work at Waikato Regional Council.

Date: 14 August 2018
DOC is asking whitebaiters to be responsible and follow the rules ahead of the start of the whitebait season tomorrow.

Date: 13 August 2018
After a four year hiatus Sirocco, DOC’s spokesbird kākāpō, is back and ready to meet his fans once more.

Date: 10 August 2018
An operation to remove rats from Rakitū off the east coast of Aotea / Great Barrier Island has begun.

Date: 10 August 2018
DOC says human interference was not to blame for the deaths of more than 40 New Zealand fur seals/kekeno at a remote bay in Banks Peninsula at the weekend.

Date: 10 August 2018
Following the deaths of two whales, there is a rāhui on shellfish collection and fishing on a Northland beach.

Date: 09 August 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
A vital step towards better protecting indigenous freshwater fish was taken with today’s introduction of a new indigenous fish conservation bill in Parliament.

Date: 09 August 2018
A record number of endangered black stilt/kakī have been released into the wild in the Mackenzie basin this week after the best breeding season ever.

Date: 09 August 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The New Zealand Threat Classification System report on freshwater fish provides the latest conservation status of New Zealand’s 76 known freshwater fish species.

Date: 08 August 2018
DOC is reminding people to follow the four-wheel drive care code after some drivers damaged fragile areas with reckless off-road driving.

Date: 08 August 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The Government is supporting a project to make Wellington the world’s first predator free capital city with a $3.27 million funding boost announced by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today.

Date: 07 August 2018
A difficult decision has been made to humanely euthanise the stranded humpback whale at Ripiro Beach, outside Dargaville.

Date: 07 August 2018
The death of two privately-held captive kea after a routine health check over the weekend is concerning and DOC would like to determine the cause of their deaths.

Date: 07 August 2018
Loose rock and material has been removed from the iconic archway at Cathedral Cove making it safe for public to once again enjoy.

Date: 05 August 2018
DOC is keeping an open mind about how more than 40 New Zealand fur seals/kekeno died, after their bodies were found on a remote bay in Banks Peninsula.

Date: 03 August 2018
Napier was treated to a rare sight today – the seventh Weddell seal to visit New Zealand shores ever recorded.

Date: 02 August 2018
Two dogs missing in the Kaweka Forest Park have been found.

Date: 31 July 2018
DOC is marking World Ranger Day by launching a new uniform for its frontline rangers that is more comfortable and offers greater protection from the elements.

Date: 31 July 2018
DOC is expected to reopen Cathedral Cove next week.

Date: 30 July 2018
The death of a second semi-resident Kaikoura sperm whale in a month has been met with concern by those who know the animals.

Date: 27 July 2018
A call for owners to enrol dogs in Kiwi Aversion Training comes after eight deaths in the past five months and threatens one of the most thriving kiwi populations in New Zealand.

Date: 26 August 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The home of a giant native grasshopper is now safer after Crown land in the Mackenzie Basin was protected as conservation land, Land Information and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 20 July 2018
Source: Mackenzie District Council
A new working group will develop short-term solutions to manage camping in the Mackenzie and Waitaki basins.

Date: 18 July 2018
Concerned members of the public can rest assured seals on Whanganui beaches are just there for a rest.

Date: 05 June 2018
More artists will be inspired by our natural environment and cultural heritage with the continuation of the Creative New Zealand partnership.

Date: 16 July 2018
Kōkako have been released onto Mount Pirongia in a bid to return the songbirds to the mountain.

Date: 16 July 2018
Forty people, ages ranging from just two years old to over 80, turned up to plant 1,700 native grass plants in the dunes at Riversdale on Saturday.

Date: 13 July 2018
Hawke’s Bay’s largest kiwi population may be at risk from two dogs that are loose in the Kaweka Forest Park.

Date: 11 July 2018
DOC is seeking public input on a new proposal to close various tracks in the kauri region to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.

Date: 11 July 2018
Source: Endangered Species Foundation and Auckland Zoo
A secure population of one of New Zealand’s rarest skinks, the critically endangered Chesterfield skink has been established in captivity, with support from the Endangered Species Foundation and Auckland Zoo.

Date: 10 July 2018
Tracks along the Kauri Coast, on Northland’s west coast, will be temporarily closed while they are upgraded to prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Date: 10 July 2018
DOC rangers have trapped a rat at Home Bay on pest-free Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 05 July 2018
Source: NZ Transport Agency
The outlook is looking brighter for the native Ōhau rock daisy enduring on its earthquake-damaged Kaikōura coastal home with new plantings and new growth emerging.

Date: 05 July 2018
DOC reminds keen whale watchers to keep at least 50 m away from the rare southern right whale/tohora currently enjoying Wellington Harbour.

Date: 03 July 2018
The votes are in and DOC’s latest Royal cam albatross chick has her new ‘female explorers’ themed name.

Date: 02 July 2018
Source: Hawkes Bay Regional Council.
A project aimed at creating a Predator Free Hawke’s Bay has been launched in Napier with the announcement of a $1.6 million kick-start in funding from the Government.

Date: 02 July 2018
A young dead male Northland brown kiwi was found by a group of dog walkers on Long Beach, Russell, Bay of Islands at 8 am on Saturday 9 June 2018.

Date: 02 July 2018
Hawke’s Bay bird lovers will soon be able to view their avian friends up close and without disturbing them thanks to the hard work of Napier Menzshed volunteers.

Date: 29 June 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Communities will have two new tools to help combat rats, stoats and possums that are killing our native birds, plants and other wildlife, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said in Nelson today.

Date: 28 June 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The great white shark and basking shark have been classed as ‘threatened’ for the first time and the future of these species is not positive.

Date: 26 June 2018
New signage has been installed on some DOC tracks in the Tauranga District reminding the public of the regulations around mountain biking in the area.

Date: 23 June 2018
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has announced funding for the first step in New Zealand’s most ambitious island pest eradication.

Date: 22 June 2018
DOC biodiversity rangers are in hot pursuit of ferrets which are hunting North Island brown kiwi in Tongariro Forest.

Date: 22 June 2018
Annual fishing licences can be purchased from 25 June and are valid from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. Costs remain unchanged.

Date: 19 June 2018
Hundreds of people from around the world have had their say and now it’s your turn to choose the official name for this year’s Royal cam chick.

Date: 18 June 2018
DOC continues its programme of upgrading tracks in the Kauri Coast to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Date: 18 June 2018
DOC is appealing for information about the deaths of nine red-billed gulls in Kaikoura.

Date: 15 June 2018
DOC is making a change to a service it provides to businesses exporting deer and other animal products.

Date: 15 June 2018
The most popular walking tracks in Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park are also among the best place in New Zealand to see a whio in the wild, according to recent bird counts.

Date: 15 June 2018
Winter is a time for foraging and resting for seals around the Bay of Plenty coast.

Date: 11 June 2018
DOC is launching a new booking system today and invites those wishing to book onto a Great Walk to create their user accounts.

Date: 08 June 2018
Travelling to Mt Ruapehu by snow shuttle is safer, reduces traffic and helps protect the environment.

Date: 07 June 2018
DOC today released a shortlist of seven multi-day walks from around New Zealand that remain in the running to become a Great Walk.

Date: 06 June 2018
A second DOC Kaimanawa wild horse muster for 2018 has been completed successfully.

Date: 05 June 2018
New Zealand’s plants are facing increasing threats according to a new scientific report published by DOC today.

Date: 05 June 2018
More artists will be inspired by our natural environment and cultural heritage with the continuation of the Creative New Zealand partnership.

Date: 02 June 2018
Source: Office of the Minister or Conservation
International visitors will pay more than locals for DOC huts and campsites on New Zealand’s four most popular Great Walks as part of a trial for the 2018/19 season, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 31 May 2018
DOC is reminding people to leave seals alone to rest.

Date: 31 May 2018
Forty hard working Kahutara School students joined a community group last Friday to work on a native planting in one of Wairarapa’s toughest environments – Onoke Spit.

Date: 31 May 2018
A new resource in te reo Māori has been released by DOC in Taranaki. It looks closely at whio, the very special ducks that live on the rivers and streams of Mounga Taranaki.

Date: 30 May 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
An ambitious plan to eradicate pests from Taranaki will get an $11.7 million funding injection from Predator Free 2050 Ltd.

Date: 29 May 2018
Millions of people have spent the last three years watching her neighbours grow up. Now for the third year running DOC is inviting people to help name the newest Royal cam albatross chick at the Taiaroa Head colony on Otago Peninsula.

Date: 28 May 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Birds are flourishing in South Westland’s Landsborough valley thanks to 20 years of sustained predator control.

Date: 24 May 2018
A humpback whale stopped in Hawke’s Bay today for lunch and a show just off Napier’s Marine Parade beach.

Date: 24 May 2018
Visitor data from some of DOC's most popular sites shows mixed results but another record summer season overall.

Date: 24 May 2018
Monitoring shows a critically endangered native shore bird continues to nest and breed near the Rocket Lab launch site on Mahia Peninsula.

Date: 23 May 2018
Source: Department of Conservation and Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust
Dog owners are being warned they must take better control of their dogs following the deaths of two yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho.

Date: 22 May 2018
With seal season approaching, DOC is reminding people to leave kekeno/seal pups alone if they see them on shore.

Date: 21 May 2018
Armed with rakes and trowels, the Aongatete Forest Project (AFP) and DOC spent last Thursday [17 May 2018] sowing native dactylanthus seed in the Kaimai-Mamaku Conservation Park.

Date: 18 May 2018
A DOC Hawke’s Bay ranger was called out to pick up a shot karearea/New Zealand falcon from a farm in Maraekakaho.

Date: 17 May 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
New Zealand’s distinctive native plants, wildlife and natural landscapes will benefit from a funding boost for DOC, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 16 May 2018
The New Zealand Conservation Authority has approved amendments to the Tongariro National Park Management Plan to allow for mountain biking.

Date: 16 May 2018
Four lucky photographers have won a Taupo Region Fishing Licence of their choice in a DOC competition which closed on Friday 11 May.

Date: 14 May 2018
Whangārei DOC staff are dangling from cliff edges and climbing trees to safeguard the threatened rātā vine species, carmine rātā, from myrtle rust.

Date: 10 May 2018
DOC is temporarily closing the walkway through Okura Bush Scenic Reserve, on Auckland’s North Shore.

Date: 10 May 2018
Source: Taranaki Mounga Project
One of the world’s most intensive rat and small rodent trapping networks is providing a safe haven for wildlife on Mt Taranaki, resulting in the release of more toutouwai / North Island robin back to mountain.

Date: 07 May 2018
An earthmoving contractor will be working on Motutapu Island for the next four weeks repairing slip damage caused by Cyclone Debbie, just over a year ago.

Date: 04 May 2018
The Abel Tasman National Park has been given the tick of approval as a home for pāteke, with the population of rare native ducks about to increase dramatically.

Date: 04 May 2018
DOC is responding to the discovery of Argentine ants at the mainland visitor departure point for the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve.

Date: 23 April 2018
Join the celebrations on 24 April for historic Arrowtown and the famous bungy bridge’s new Landmarks status.

Date: 20 April 2018
‘Kiwi Forever’ an enduring legacy conservation and cultural programme was held recently in the Tongariro district.

Date: 18 April 2018
An endangered giant land snail mistakenly kidnapped by trampers from Kahurangi National Park is being returned home by DOC.

Date: 18 April 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Freshwater fish will have a better chance of survival under guidelines launched by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today.

Date: 17 April 2018
170 Kaimanawa wild horses have been successfully re-homed following the weekend’s muster from the Waiouru Military Training Area.

Date: 17 April 2018
The local collaborative ecological restoration project Poutiri Ao ō Tāne welcomed almost 100 new members to its whānau.

Date: 16 April 2018
DOC has prosecuted a Porangahau man for two breaches of the Whitebait Fishing Regulations.

Date: 12 April 2018
Kiwi listening stands are popping-up at markets across the Bay of Islands throughout April and May to give aspiring kiwi listeners information about how to contribute, including learning the difference between male and female kiwi calls.

Date: 11 April 2018
DOC is urging fishers to check the location of marine reserves before they go fishing after a string of offending in Canterbury’s two marine reserves this summer.

Date: 10 April 2018
For the first time in more than 150 years, a New Zealand sea lion/rāpoka breeding colony has established on mainland New Zealand, at Stewart Island.

Date: 06 April 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation and Office of the Minister of Regional Economic Development
An ambitious plan to enable more people to enjoy the beauty of Mt Taranaki and strengthen connections to its natural and cultural heritage has been announced.

Date: 06 April 2018
Source: Department of Conservation and Ministry for Primary Industries
The fight against the plant disease myrtle rust is changing gear, with a greater focus on a science programme to increase our understanding around the disease.

Date: 05 April 2018
A difficult decision has been made to humanely euthanise 12 stranded pilot whales that were alive after a total of 38 stranded at the mouth of the Okuru River south of Haast.

Date: 05 April 2018
The discovery of a large number of dead shellfish, in the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve on Auckland’s North Shore, has sparked a multi-agency investigation led by DOC.

Date: 05 April 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The roll-out of 20 innovative cleaning stations has started as part of DOC's efforts to reduce the spread of kauri dieback, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 04 April 2018
Two Havelock North men have pleaded guilty to fishing in the Te Angiangi marine reserve. They have each paid $750 in restitution.

Date: 01 April 2018
Today marks the start of Whio Awareness Month, where we celebrate all the hard work that goes into making a brighter future for whio.

Date: 29 March 2018
DOC is responding to a possible sighting of a stoat on pest-free Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 27 March 2018
Ulva Island’s intensive trapping network has stopped a rampage of rats in their tracks this summer after five unrelated rodents were caught on the island’s coastal network.

Date: 26 March 2018
Hunters intending to hunt on public conservation land are reminded to be aware of their obligations.

Date: 23 March 2018
Two men are likely to face heavy penalties after helping themselves to paua in rock pools within the Taputeranga Marine Reserve.

Date: 23 March 2018
Sirocco, DOC’s spokesbird kākāpō, celebrates his 21st ‘birthday’ – officially known as his hatchday – and DOC is encouraging others to join in his milestone birthday.

Date: 22 March 2018
DOC is asking the public to report any recent sightings of water dragons in Papaitonga Scenic Reserve, near Levin.

Date: 21 March 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
In a world-leading conservation effort, mice have been successfully eradicated from Antipodes Island in the New Zealand Subantarctic, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 20 March 2018
For the first time in more than 100 years, takahē will roam freely in Kahurangi National Park in an historic attempt to create a new wild population outside of Fiordland.

Date: 20 March 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation and the Minister for Primary Industries
Work to improve protection of the nationally endangered Hector’s dolphin will accelerate after five were accidentally killed in a fishing net off Banks Peninsula.

Date: 20 March 2018
Up to 300 Kaimanawa wild horses may need to be removed this April from the Waiouru Military Training Area (WMTA) during the muster.

Date: 18 March 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Nominations for conservation boards have been reopened to ensure they reflect the diverse communities they serve, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

Date: 16 March 2018
DOC is temporarily closing all tracks in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve from 18 March.

Date: 16 March 2018
West Coast whio have received a substantial boost to their population this year.

Date: 15 March 2018
DOC has trapped and killed a stoat on pest-free Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 14 March 2018
Source: New Zealand Conservation Authority
The New Zealand Conservation Authority has put its proposed review of the general policy for National Parks on hold.

Date: 09 March 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
One of New Zealand’s rare bats is on its way to recovery after successful large-scale predator control in Fiordland, according to a new science report released by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today.

Date: 09 March 2018
New Zealand’s two bat species and native birds are thriving after predator control work in Fiordland National Park, Department of Conservation monitoring this summer shows.

Date: 09 March 2018
Source: Lincoln University
Lincoln University and the Department of Conservation are teaming up to meet “a desperate need” in the parks and recreation sector.

Date: 07 March 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Two options to protect areas of ocean off the east coast of the South Island will be considered by Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage.

Date: 07 March 2018
A new albatross family is centre stage on the Royal cam at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on Otago Peninsula.

Date: 06 March 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
Seaweek celebrations, beginning on 3 March, provide an opportunity to highlight the plight of our precious marine species, Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage says.

Date: 05 March 2018
A young weka losing its foot has prompted a reminder that leg-hold traps should be raised off the ground.

Date: 01 March 2018
Whanganui whio populations in the wild were boosted last month when 16 captive-bred native blue ducks were released on the Manganui o te Ao River at Ferne Pool.

Date: 28 February 2018
DOC today confirmed myrtle rust has been found on public conservation land.

Date: 28 February 2018
DOC has decided to permanently cease the use of Robinson helicopters to transport DOC employees.

Date: 28 February 2018
Former Cyclone Gita’s heavy rain and gale force winds triggered a large slip that has closed a long section of the Holly Hut Track on Mt Taranaki.

Date: 27 February 2018
The first translocation of kōrure or mottled petrel has been hailed a success as the birds begin to return to their nesting site on the Maungaharuru Range.

Date: 26 February 2018
Illegally grazing 380 cattle in a conservation area for two weeks in 2017 could cost a Southland farming company more than $100,000.

Date: 26 February 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The critically endangered Antipodes Island wandering albatross will be functionally extinct within the next 20 years unless the devastating decline in their population is halted, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says.

Date: 23 February 2018
GPS technology and remote cameras are helping scientists better understand how to prevent sea lion pups from dying on the subantarctic islands.

Date: 23 February 2018
Encouraging children to explore nature will be the focus of National Children’s Day celebrations, to be held at Ivon Wilson Park in Te Anau on Sunday 4 March.

Date: 22 February 2018
DOC has found no sign of a cat on Rangitoto or Motutapu, in the Hauraki Gulf, after an extensive search on the islands.

Date: 21 February 2018
A new report identifies opportunities and challenges facing agencies and the community in the future management of the Mackenzie Basin.

Date: 19 February 2018
Otago Peninsula’s Royal cam albatross chick died after it was attacked yesterday by a parent bird during a tough breeding season for the colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head says DOC.

Date: 16 February 2018
Mountain bike and tramping trails through the Whanganui National Park will ride better than last year following a massive volunteer effort in January this year.

Date: 19 February 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
The Million Dollar Mouse team are back in the Antipodes Islands to discover the outcome of one of the largest ever attempts to eradicate mice.

Date: 15 February 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
DOC staff will be able to issue infringement notices and reduce the number of costly prosecutions under a bill that passed its first reading last night.

Date: 15 February 2018
Te Kakahu/Chalky Island skink have been introduced to a new island home in Dusky Sound, Fiordland to improve the species’ security.

Date: 14 February 2018
A group of Central Hawke’s Bay residents is fighting to save a rare type of native forest, the only one of its kind in the region.

Date: 13 February 2018
The Dome Equipment Shed is being removed from Mt Ruapehu this month as it is no longer needed to house volcano monitoring equipment.

Date: 12 February 2018
A group of geckos on Mana Island near Wellington were fitted with tiny backpacks today, as researchers hope to shed light on how far they move when transferred to new homes

Date: 09 February 2018
DOC's shark specialist reminds people travelling to the beach for the long weekend to be aware of those marine animals seen around our coastlines this summer.

Date: 08 February 2018
After two years “off the grid”, Sirocco, DOC's spokesbird kākāpō, has come out of hiding.

Date: 07 February 2018
DOC is responding to two possible sightings of a black cat, at Islington Bay, which connects Rangitoto and Motutapu islands, in the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 07 February 2018
Longstanding Taumarunui volunteer, painter Bob Anderson (aka Sideshow Bob) has finished another major painting project for the DOC on the Whanganui River.

Date: 05 February 2018
DOC and Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust estimate there are 250 breeding pairs of yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho along the Otago and Southland coastline as their annual breeding season comes to an end.

Date: 04 February 2018
New Zealand’s major surf breaks and the impacts of vehicles on beaches are receiving more attention from local authorities because of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010.

Date: 02 February 2018
DOC has had a wide response to its call for initial submissions for potential new Great Walks, with 30 tracks from across the country proposed.

Date: 02 February 2018
Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
A new report shows New Zealand is continuing to lose its precious wetlands and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says it will take years to turn the trend around.

Date: 02 February 2018
World Wetlands Day on 2 February presents a great opportunity to highlight the ongoing restoration work carried out on Lake Taupo’s Te Matapuna Wetland - one of the largest wetlands in the North Island.

Date: 02 February 2018
DOC rangers have been putting in the hard yards to free the Manawatu Estuary from the clutches of spartina, a nasty weed which takes over mudflats.

Date: 31 January 2018
DOC is reminding the public that moulting penguins are particularly vulnerable at this time of year after a dog killed a Snares crested penguin at Kakanui, near Oamaru.

Date: 30 January 2018
Milford Sound/Piopiotahi’s popular Lady Bowen Falls walk has reopened for the first time in more than 15 years.

Date: 26 January 2018
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
Three measures that will strengthen efforts to save kauri trees from dieback disease were agreed by the Kauri Dieback Governance Group when they met yesterday.

Date: 26 January 2018
A two-week research expedition to gather data on the elusive, endangered blue whale within New Zealand’s shores is due to set sail on Sunday 28 January.

Date: 26 January 2018
DOC rangers have trapped and killed a rat on Tiritiri Matangi, a pest free island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Date: 25 January 2018
An endangered dolphin found washed up at Port Waikato at the weekend, was the victim of a shark attack, a post mortem examination shows.

Date: 24 January 2018
Summer is ‘boaty bag’ season in the Bay of Islands with up to 400 boaty bags being handed out to remind boaties of their responsibilities on the water and land.

Date: 23 January 2018
A fluffy new Royal cam star hatched last night in the northern royal albatross breeding colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on Otago Peninsula.

Date: 23 January 2018
Trampers crossing the Waiau Pass between Nelson Lakes National Park and St James Conservation Area will find the new 6-bunk hut Waiau Hut a welcome sight at the end of their 15 km trek.

Date: 23 January 2018
Individuals, groups and businesses have a novel opportunity to help boost conservation in New Zealand – by adopting a Fiordland Valley.

Date: 19 January 2018
DOC has completed track upgrades in kauri forests throughout the Hauraki, Coromandel and Tauranga districts, to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Date: 17 January 2018
Toyota Kiwi Guardians is an activity programme that helps kids connect with nature by encouraging them to go on epic self-guided adventures and earn rewards.

Date: 17 January 2018
Two historically and culturally significant landmarks – Bannockburn Sluicings and the Otago Central Railway Trail – will celebrate their recent elevation to Landmark status at events on 27 January.

Date: 17 January 2018
Picton Dawn Chorus has secured $60,000 from DOC to support their pest control work.

Date: 15 January 2018
A whopping 26 whio have arrived at the Whio Hardening Facility in Turangi.

Date: 15 January 2018
Rakatu Wetlands, located on the floodplain of the Waiau River, will be the site for Fiordland's 2018 World's Wetland Day celebration on 27 January.

Date: 12 January 2018
DOC is warning fishers to stay out of marine reserves around Banks Peninsula after a recent spate of alleged illegal fishing.

Date: 11 January 2018
DOC is appealing for information about the cutting down of native trees at Robin Hood Bay, a popular coastal camping spot in Marlborough.

Date: 11 January 2018
DOC is reminding people to keep safe as two female leopard seals continue their visits to Auckland’s seaside spots.

Date: 11 January 2018
DOC is reviewing options to address the impact of pests within the Raukumara Forest Park.

Date: 11 January 2018
A routine check of tracking tunnels on Tiritiri Matangi island on 8 January has launched a search for a rat on the inner Hauraki Gulf sanctuary.

Date: 08 January 2018
A record number of whio ducklings have been located on Mt Taranaki in what is proving to be a boom year for the rare native blue duck.

Date: 03 January 2018
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
MPI and DOC will continue to take a zero tolerance approach towards people who poach from the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve north of Gisborne.