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Tramping on the Routeburn Track.
Air New Zealand
DOC and Air New Zealand share a vision for New Zealand as a place where our natural environment is thriving, and that all New Zealanders can enjoy.

DOC and Air New Zealand partnership logo.

Air New Zealand has been a national partner with DOC for conservation since 2012.

DOC and Air New Zealand recognise the critical role that the natural environment plays in the success of Aotearoa. Both acknowledge that our environment underpins our country’s cultural, social and economic prosperity and wellbeing. This is why we share a joint commitment to conservation leadership in New Zealand.

Restoring nature alongside the Great Walks

Air New Zealand invests in large biodiversity projects alongside the Great Walks network – enabling over 40,000 hectares of sustained pest control and the return of native birdsong to these special places.

These pest trapping networks means we’re able to create safer places for taonga species such as whio, takahē, kiwi, rock wren / tuke, kea, kākā, South Island robin / toutouwai and many other forest birds.

The partnership also funds species management projects including surveys and acoustic recorders to understand how the health of the area is being restored.

Find out more about the biodiversity projects on the Abel Tasman Coast Track, Heaphy Track, Paparoa Track, Routeburn Track and Milford Track.

DOC’s Conservation Dogs Programme

Air New Zealand supports the Conservation Dogs Programme, a DOC-led programme which supports highly trained dog-handler teams to detect New Zealand’s protected species and unwanted pests. The programme includes:

  • World class training, mentoring and certification
    As the first country in the world to use dogs for conservation, our leadership and innovation is sought by regional councils, NGOs and internationally.
  • Efficient and accurate pest and species detection
    With their unique scent capability and paired with their handler, the dogs can locate and monitor both predators and taonga species more efficiently than humans alone.
    Learn more about conservation dogs and the work they do.

Transporting threatened species

Air New Zealand transports some of New Zealand’s most endangered species (birds, reptiles and invertebrates) and conservation dogs around the country as part of active recovery programmes. Species are transported for genetic and population management, to treat illness and to establish new populations at safe breeding sites.

Air New Zealand has provided free flights for over 4,500 threatened species and conservation dogs since the partnership began in 2012.

To find out more, please visit the Air New Zealand website.