Note: Meet the Locals is no longer on TVNZ. We are in the process of making it available on our own channels.
The arid heart of Central Otago can look empty of life, but this video shows that if you look closer, you can find tiny alpine plants and flowers and maybe even the elusive Cromwell chafer beetle.
Watch a video about a school camp at Doubtful Sound, one of New Zealand’s last remaining pristine wilderness areas.
Extreme athletes and conservationists are coming together to help protect one of New Zealand's rarest birds, the blue duck. Watch this video to learn more.
Watch this video about White Island, an active volcano offshore from Whakatane. Learn how scientists monitor this live volcano.
The ancient art of falconry is making a comeback. This video reveals how it's being used to rehabilitate the karearea, New Zealand's native falcon.
Watch a video about Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere - two of the famous and ancient kauri in the Waipoua Forest.
Watch a video about the Auckland Zoo’s native frog research centre, where a team of experts are trying to solve the mystery of our disappearing ancient frogs.
Just north of Auckland you'll find New Zealand's first marine reserve, Goat Island. Watch this video to learn about the wonderful wildlife found in this marine sanctuary.
Watch a video on how to eat in style when you're out in the wild. Tramping doesn’t have to mean eating porridge and two minute noodles.
Watch a video about the stitchbird or hihi, one of New Zealand's rarest birds, and the sole representative of a bird family found only in New Zealand.
A sheep farm on the Otago Peninsula has made a business out of watching penguins. Watch the video to learn more.
Watch a video about the charismatic kākā, one of New Zealand's three ancient parrots.
Watch this video on the Karangahake Gorge, the gateway to Hauraki and a place with a rich golden history.
This video looks at the ways the Wingspan team in Rotorua are working to save New Zealand's native falcon.
Monkeys, zebra and wallabies were just a few of the animals brought to Kawau Island by Governor Grey. Watch the video and learn how much of his collection still remains.
This video explains why kererū get in trouble and how a very dedicated vet-nurse in a suburb of Dunedin looks after them.
Watch a video showing how the BNZ Operation Nest Egg programme is helping New Zealand’s iconic bird, the kiwi, survive from incubator to hatchery to the wild.
In this video you'll learn what a lahar is, see the Mt Ruapehu lahar in action, and learn what DOC is doing to monitor and help limit the damage from a future lahar.
Watch a video on how visitors to Mansion House on Kawau Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, get a chance to step back in time and see what life was like in the nineteenth century.
Watch this video about the lowland longjaw and how DOC protects this tiny fish which is as endangered as the kakapo.
Watch a video about the giant weta, which has been around for 190 million years, making it one of New Zealand’s oldest creatures.
This video takes us behind the scenes at the Leigh Marine Lab next to Goat Island Marine Reserve just north of Auckland.
Watch a video about the Island Hill homestead on Stewart Island - a living museum and great place to learn about the challenges and lives of New Zealand’s early sheep farmers.
Learn about historical North Head in this video from the Meet the Locals series.
This video about the BNZ Operation Nest Egg programme at Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua introduces us to just a few of the thousands of New Zealanders helping look after kiwi.
Watch a video about one of New Zealand’s most-loved birds - the fantail or pīwakawaka - and the way they help us test the health of the forest, and whether pest control in the area has worked.
Fiordland locals are transforming Lake Manapouri’s largest island, Pomona, into a haven for local wildlife, bringing back a slice of the pristine Fiordland that once was.
Watch a video about the Raglan Area School, one of New Zealand's 500 Enviroschools. Its not just about learning reading and writing, but how to live in a sustainable way and protect our environment.
The iconic silhouette of Rangitoto Island in Auckland’s Waitemata harbour is this country’s youngest volcano, at only 600 years old. This makes it the perfect place to learn about how life populates an area.
Watch a video about the Rotoiti Mainland Island and the scientific work that goes on within it to measure and monitor the restoration of this beech forest and its wildlife.
Watch a video about the New Zealand sea lion, which was hunted to almost extinction and is now the world’s most endangered sea lion.
There are more kiwi on Stewart Island than people! Watch a video about how DOC scientists check up on Stewart Island kiwi and learn more about their quirky behaviour.
Travel to Tiritiri Matangi in this video from the Meet the Locals series. It's island sanctuary open to the public where you can hear and see some of New Zealand’s rarest birds, including takahē and saddleback/tīeke.
This video takes us to Tiritiri Matangi where we meet the volunteers behind one of the most successful conservation projects in the entire world.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is known as the best one-day walk in the country. This video shows how to prepare for the walk's tricky terrain and changing weather conditions.
Watch a video about Taiaroa Head, where you'll find the one of world's largest seabirds, the Northern royal albatross.
Nestled in a peaceful bush setting, the Tongariro National Trout Centre provides a peek into the world of trout. This video shows why DOC protects an introduced fish.
Watch a video about New Zealand’s tuatara and find out how the tuatara ‘headstart’ programme works.
Watch a video about Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua where local iwi manage a sanctuary for native wildlife.
Visiting a live volcano can be a dangerous experience. Watch this video to find out how and why thousands of visitors a year travel to White Island.
Just outside of Rotorua you’ll find the newest geothermal site in the world, the Waimangu Valley. Watch this video to discover more about this unique area.
Discover stalagmites, stalactites and glowworm grottos in this video on the underground world of the Waitomo caves.
Watch this video on the Waimaori streamcare programme for children in Nelson.
In this video you'll visit an internationally significant geothermal site and discover the array of plants, fungus and bacteria that live in the harsh conditions of the geothermal springs.
Watch this video to find out why the highly endangered blue duck or whio is thriving on the Whakapapa River.