New on the site

Salisbury Track

24 January

Walk to Salisbury Lodge from Flora car park. This is an easy overnight tramp that's good for older children.

2025 CSP meetings and project updates

24 January

Find the agenda, minutes, reports and presentations for the 2025 meetings of the Conservation Services Programme.

Backcountry huts get IVL funding boost

23 January

DOC and the Backcountry Trust (BCT) are partnering on 30 recreational hut projects this summer – great news for lovers of New Zealand’s backcountry and those looking to volunteer outdoors, says DOC.

Rat found on Ulva Island triggers response

23 January

DOC has begun an incursion response on predator free Ulva Island after a rat was found dead in a trap last week during routine surveillance.

“Feisty” injured Whanganui kiwi returns home

21 January

Attempting to wriggle from its handler’s grasp, a brown kiwi has eagerly returned home to the wild near the Parapara Road Banana Bridge, following its recovery from being hit by a car.

Visitors flock back to Mautohe Cathedral Cove

21 January

Hundreds of people a day are visiting Mautohe Cathedral Cove’s famous beach following the reinstatement of walking access to the popular Coromandel location.

Request a fast-track pre-lodgement consultation

21 January

You need to consult with the Department of Conservation (DOC) on fast-track projects that require our authorisation.

Cobble skinks beat the odds and fly home

20 January

In a fortunate turn of events, an “insurance” population of 148 cobble skinks has been returned to the wild north of Westport on the South Island’s West Coast.

Two separate whale strandings in the South Island this weekend

19 January

Iwi, DOC, and Project Jonah teams have been responding to two separate whale stranding events this weekend in the South Island.

Well-placed rangers rescue tramper in trouble

17 January

DOC rangers and a hut warden were in the right place at the right time to help a hiker in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

Hoiho/yellow-eyed penguin nest numbers down

14 January

Hoiho appear on our five-dollar note and are one of the rarest penguins in the world with only 143 known nests on mainland New Zealand including Stewart Island/Rakiura.