New on the site

Rāhui declared following death on Pouākai Range

20 March

Ka tipare a Taranaki ki te raukawakawa, he tohu aroha nui ki te iwi kua ngaro.

Last chance to save globally rare plants from rabbits

20 March

An ambitious plan to reduce rabbits and hares inside a DOC scientific reserve near Christchurch to protect rare native plants begins today with a targeted bait laying operation using helicopters.

Competitive allocation of conservation concessions

20 March

The objectives of the options assessed in this Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) are to ensure the framework for competitive allocations provides for high performing activities on public conservation land including when significant private investment is needed.

Modernising the concessions framework

20 March

The options proposed in this Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) aim to improve efficiency and regulatory practice in how concessions are processed.

Enabling more flexibility for exchanges and disposals

20 March

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) assesses proposals to enable greater flexibility for the Government to consider exchange or disposal of public conservation land where it makes sense for conservation.

Conservation Land Management Planning

20 March

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) assesses options for rationalising both the planning document hierarchy and the processes for updating and approving those documents.

Amenities areas

20 March

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) assesses proposals to amend the Conservation Act 1987 and the National Parks Act 1980 to broaden legislative powers to establish amenities areas across various types of public conservation land.

Allocation process for flight landings in Westland Tai Poutini National Park opens

20 March

Applications for the Westland Tai Poutini National Park aircraft landings allocation process have opened and will close 5 pm Friday 24 April 2026.

Call for proposals to restore the historic Chateau Tongariro

20 March

Proposals are being sought from experienced operators to restore and operate the historic Chateau Tongariro and its associated buildings, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

Assessment of weighted hooks as a seabird bycatch mitigation option for surface longline fisheries

19 March

Read the final report for MIT2024-03 Assessment of weighted hooks as a seabird bycatch mitigation option for surface longline fisheries. Published March 2026.

DOC and Meridian Energy celebrate 10-years of powering Kākāpō Recovery

19 March

DOC and Meridian Energy have renewed a longstanding partnership supporting the world-leading Kākāpō Recovery Programme for a further three years.

Testing the utility of visual deterrent options to mitigate incidental bycatch of protected species in set nets

18 March

Read the preliminary results for MIT2024-05 Testing the utility of visual deterrent options to mitigate incidental bycatch of protected species in set nets. Published March 2026.

Coromandel brown kiwi move off Motutapu for the first time

18 March

The first three kiwi were transferred back to the Hauraki-Coromandel region as part of a 10-day muster.

Strong summer of naturing wraps up as storm recovery continues

18 March

The 2025/26 summer visitor season has wrapped up, with more New Zealanders exploring a wider range of conservation areas despite storm disruptions.

Speargrass surprise revealed after Tongariro fires

18 March

The fire-charred ground at Tongariro has revealed some unexpected good news, with DOC ecologists discovering an abundance of a threatened plant species.

Fair allocation process for guided day walks, and multi-day walks outside of the Great Walk season

16 March

Existing concessions for guided day walking and guided multi-day walks outside of the Great Walks Season are due to expire on 30 June 2026.

Dolphin necropsy inconclusive, not thought to be fishing related

16 March

Final necropsy results for a deceased Māui or Hector's dolphin that washed up on a remote Port Waikato coastline could not determine the cause of death.

Spin fishing on the lower Tauranga-Taupō River survey

13 March

Provide feedback on a proposal to introduce spin fishing on a short and defined section of the lower Tauranga-Taupō River.

Bibliography

13 March

A curated list of MERP-related publications and outputs. This list includes reports and scientific papers published from MERP projects.

Climate change research

13 March

Research to understand how the effects of climate change affect marine life around New Zealand and how to protect our marine ecosystems.