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Application by Vincent Ski Club Incorporated for a lease

09 February

Have your say on an application by Vincent Ski Club Incorporated to lease an area of the Coronet Peak Recreation Reserve, in Queenstown. Submissions close 6 March 2026.

DOC calls to report entangled whale

07 February

DOC is asking people to keep a lookout for a whale, entangled in a cray pot line, last seen off the Kaikōura coast on Friday, 7 February, near Sharks Tooth in South Bay.

Kauri Protection Education Trailer: Te Ara Mātauranga o Te Kauri to launch at Waitangi

05 February

Te Ara Mātauranga o Te Kauri launches at Waitangi on 6 February 2026.

New survey continues effort to safeguard critically endangered Māui dolphins

05 February

DOC will begin its Māui dolphin abundance estimate survey later this week, building on vital research to help safeguard one of the world's rarest marine mammals.

Live capture trapping

05 February

Live capture trapping involves using cage, box or leghold traps.

North Coromandel campsites reopen as clean-up continues

04 February

People planning on naturing in the Coromandel Peninsula over the Waitangi Day weekend will be able to enjoy three of the five idyllic campsites.

Spike in Taupō fishery offences prompts rules reminder

04 February

DOC Taupō Fishery Rangers say they’ve seen a concerning rise in people breaking the rules when fishing for trout in the Taupō Fishing District during the peak summer period.

DOC shock as ducks kill pūteketeke chicks

04 February

DOC rangers in Twizel were alarmed when a concerned citizen alerted them to mallard ducks preying on pūteketeke chicks in the Mackenzie Basin, recently.

Waituna Lagoon in better health for World Wetlands Day

02 February

A new survey of Waituna Lagoon in Southland shows a significant improvement in health for the internationally important Ramsar wetland compared to a year ago.

Mautohe Cathedral Cove to reopen, caution urged

30 January

Coromandel’s Mautohe Cathedral Cove tracks will reopen this weekend after several days of hard work by local DOC staff and Ngāti Hei, and the completion of geotechnical inspection.

Port-Based Data Collection and Specimen Retention Programme

29 January

This is the final report for INT2024-02 Port-Based Data Collection and Specimen Retention Programme Pilot Study. Published October 2025.

Rare skinks rushed to safety ahead of beech mast

29 January

Three rare mokomoko/skinks from a species not seen for 13 years have been flown from Nelson Lakes to Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo for safe keeping ahead of this year's beech mast.

Give Kaikōura seals space this summer

29 January

Reports of visitors getting too close to kekeno/New Zealand fur seals on Kaikōura Peninsula has DOC calling for people to give native species the space they need when visiting our coastlines.

Hauraki Ambassadors the face of DOC this summer

28 January

Two students with aspirations to work in scientific and environmental fields have been the friendly faces of DOC this summer, as ambassadors for nature across Coromandel.

More lizard species, many in peril, report shows

28 January

A new report on the conservation status of reptiles in Aotearoa shows there are more lizard species than previously thought, and many are threatened or at risk of extinction.

Application form

27 January

Apply to volunteer with the Motueka Community Nursery.

Mautohe Cathedral Cove still closed, expert advice requested

27 January

Coromandel’s Mautohe Cathedral Cove tracks remain closed as DOC arranges for expert geotechnical advice on several sites it manages across the northern part of the peninsula.

1000th toroa/albatross chick hatches at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head

27 January

A huge milestone has been reached for the toroa/albatross colony on Otago Peninsula with the hatching of the 1000th chick.

Aerial survey of leatherback turtles in the waters off North Island, New Zealand

27 January

This is the final report for POP2023-01 Aerial survey of leatherback turtles in the waters off North Island, New Zealand. Published February 2026.

Conservation status of reptiles in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2025

27 January

This report presents the latest assessment of the extinction risk of reptiles in Aotearoa New Zealand.