RSS feed to media releases from the Department of Conservation website.bf9607b8-c7af-4dee-8fb7-62af9f9cf727New Zealand Department of Conservation2026-06-23T07:56:51+12:002133c748-f3f9-46a7-baf4-3edfdc53db7b

‘Deep learning’ is set to supercharge conservation work, with the ability to count and identify every single tree in a forest, even when there’s nearly a million of them.

2026-06-22T00:00:00+12:002026-06-22T00:00:00+12:00feeea7ef-1b73-4fb9-94d5-5f148b272e9e

A new route to Kahurangi National Park’s Asbestos Cottage will open on Saturday, providing safe access to the popular hut.

2026-06-19T15:00:00+12:002026-06-19T15:00:00+12:005529091c-2a94-4224-8d79-597b3f2975fb

DOC is asking locals and visitors naturing in the Bay of Islands/Te Pēwhairangi to be on the lookout for a rare Hector’s or Māui dolphin currently navigating local waters, and to report it if observed.

2026-06-19T00:00:00+12:002026-06-19T00:00:00+12:002abf346f-21c3-42b0-a223-d540dbebbbb8

Lights, laughter, learning and kai will fill Puketī ngahere on 9 July as a community Matariki celebration brings together culture, conservation and whānau.

2026-06-19T00:00:00+12:002026-06-19T00:00:00+12:0000a55c83-dab2-4efa-9921-c04bfb01fc28

Regulation changes designed to improve trout quality and benefit anglers will be in place for the start of the new fishing season, which begins 1 July 2026.

2026-06-18T00:00:00+12:002026-06-18T00:00:00+12:00175cdf67-f4f7-4afc-a137-f06f8d38a66e

The Queenstown DOC visitor centre is on the move to better meet the changing needs of visitors naturing in the Whakatipu region.

2026-06-18T00:00:00+12:002026-06-18T00:00:00+12:006999bcc7-1314-4dfe-8506-5963586e0413

Seal season is underway, and DOC Tauranga has a set of community stalwarts prepped to check on kekeno / NZ fur seals in distress.

2026-06-17T11:00:00+12:002026-06-17T11:00:00+12:009c2b67b3-9085-409a-9774-641cb4d1eb34

Wasp control across visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites will double, backed by a $2 million International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy boost, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

2026-06-17T10:00:00+12:002026-06-17T10:00:00+12:008b2f3302-f6f9-409a-b099-e43bd0a8fc2a

Threatened native wildlife will get a reprieve from predators with a $14.1 million boost to predator control funding, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

2026-06-17T10:00:00+12:002026-06-17T10:00:00+12:00c93cf9d9-c65f-45d3-8ba5-6bd69dfcd971

An injured kārearea/New Zealand falcon has been transported hundreds of kilometres by a team of relay drivers after it was discovered injured on a road near Lake Tekapo/Takapō.

2026-06-12T00:00:00+12:002026-06-12T00:00:00+12:00ad3bcf9b-dfad-4442-a597-48c862294e53

A kororā scored an unfortunate own goal when it found itself entangled in a football net in a New Plymouth garden last week.

2026-06-10T11:00:00+12:002026-06-10T11:00:00+12:009e40a7b9-3ef1-4dd6-ba18-c468e1da7582

Heading out to survey kōwaro/mudfish sites on the Canterbury Plains, DOC ranger Allanah Purdie never knows what to expect.

2026-06-09T09:00:00+12:002026-06-09T09:00:00+12:00c8ce9c5c-5ee9-4c42-8211-bd069c889f79

A new collaborative approach to managing wild deer in Ruahine Forest Park aims to reduce pressure on native forests while recognising the important role hunters and local communities play in caring for this special place.

2026-06-09T00:00:00+12:002026-06-09T00:00:00+12:00375099d6-ac83-4603-ab26-a8a17c89678b

Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau is set to lead the next phase of Predator Free 2050, with a $10 million Government investment to expand predator elimination efforts across the region and develop new tools that can be used across New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka and Minister for Auckland Simon Watts say.

2026-06-05T11:00:00+12:002026-06-05T11:00:00+12:0022741029-8442-4687-954c-98b875ffde71

Hunters, conservation and the community have all come out on top after a managed hunt resulted in 192 kg of venison donated to a Blenheim foodbank.

2026-06-05T00:00:00+12:002026-06-05T00:00:00+12:0045219068-8cfa-4665-800a-6d316cc8fb4b

DOC is calling for information after a juvenile kea was shot in the wing in Golden Bay and had to be euthanised due to its injuries.

2026-06-04T10:00:00+12:002026-06-04T10:00:00+12:00151fe3bb-af97-4712-ae2b-60eccf4d0a8f

New Zealand’s southernmost kauri forest has been confirmed as free of Phytophthora agathidicida (PA), the pathogen causing kauri dieback disease.

2026-06-04T07:30:00+12:002026-06-04T07:30:00+12:00196337f7-cc03-4e92-8ae3-aba322e8064f

A remediation project to clean up two former landfill sites in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has been completed this week, Environment Minister Nicola Grigg and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced today.

2026-06-04T00:00:00+12:002026-06-04T00:00:00+12:005fca9970-2a95-4c27-9e08-4fb2d32cde65

A southern right whale / tohorā was freed from a blue cod pot line in a complex operation - the first time this species has been disentangled in New Zealand waters.

2026-06-03T12:30:00+12:002026-06-03T12:30:00+12:008457dbac-3b49-42fb-ba65-30cf66e23524

New booking figures show overwhelming demand for bookable facilities, with record numbers eager to get naturing in some of New Zealand’s most iconic outdoor destinations.

2026-06-03T09:00:00+12:002026-06-03T09:00:00+12:0099ae049c-51e3-4f61-b94f-58bddd8b5c50

Kāi Tahu and DOC have announced Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia as the name for the Otago region’s new marine reserve network, reflecting ancient voyaging traditions and associations.

2026-06-02T00:00:00+12:002026-06-02T00:00:00+12:008104690b-1628-4a91-ae56-43fb9ca2184a

Some of New Zealand’s most remarkable marine environments and species are set to benefit from significant new protections along the Otago coast, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

2026-06-02T00:00:00+12:002026-06-02T00:00:00+12:006a85767f-fa5d-4e32-aaac-b9a9c67e8d14

Years of dedication to the pursuit of trophy trout underpin this year’s overall winner in the Taupō fishery photography competition.

2026-06-02T00:00:00+12:002026-06-02T00:00:00+12:009d8697b0-3962-4c40-891d-107a7bb6d227

A second New Zealand sea lion/pakake pup has been killed on a southern coastal road this month, prompting an urgent call from DOC to drivers to be vigilant.

2026-05-29T00:00:00+12:002026-05-29T00:00:00+12:000eaf1ff0-e4d3-4962-9168-26735d9b0c6f

Takahē are roaming at the base of Onetahua Farewell Spit in Golden Bay after eight were moved there this week.

2026-05-28T00:00:00+12:002026-05-28T00:00:00+12:00a95c6a06-db0d-424f-8c1f-f28d70660320

Kākāriki karaka/orange fronted parakeet parents Nacho and Trixie have only been together since 2024, but since then they’ve produced 55 chicks - 33 this season alone.

2026-05-21T00:00:00+12:002026-05-21T00:00:00+12:0026b7f0f3-29e8-4bd7-81df-8df70922d4c4

A lucky humpback whale that freed itself from entanglement with a crayfish pot line is a reminder for fishers to set up their pots and lines carefully.

2026-05-20T13:00:00+12:002026-05-20T13:00:00+12:00c2ff22c9-3f67-4ae6-9871-21ec06fa8b67

DOC will prioritise investment in Coromandel’s iconic Mautohe Cathedral Cove as part of a proposal to remove two weather-damaged adjacent tracks.

2026-05-20T00:00:00+12:002026-05-20T00:00:00+12:00fbb7b24b-c7b8-4f7c-a8be-3a1010135d9a

Native migratory fish have been detected nearly 300 km inland from the Whanganui River mouth in recent research aimed at guiding restoration of the river.

2026-05-19T12:00:00+12:002026-05-19T12:00:00+12:00dc46d89e-f7d6-4650-9407-937917083d15

Parts of the old suspension bridge up the Hooker Valley at Aoraki/Mount Cook are being offered for sale as the spectacular replacement structure nears completion.

2026-05-19T00:00:00+12:002026-05-19T00:00:00+12:008b5fa4af-e758-45a3-a4a2-d74c72687f64

DOC has granted Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Man O' War a concession to operate tours of the historic tunnels at Stony Batter.

2026-05-18T09:00:00+12:002026-05-18T09:00:00+12:009eb99339-39b7-4ea3-85e0-840b5359c69e

Construction of Oturere Hut on the Tongariro Northern Circuit is on schedule for the start of the Great Walk Season in October, but Mangatepopo Track remains closed following fires in late 2025.

2026-05-18T00:00:00+12:002026-05-18T00:00:00+12:0046362fe4-cf14-44c5-b3c8-d372d79f04bd

DOC is reminding drivers using southern coastal roads to watch out for marine mammals, for everyone’s safety.

2026-05-14T00:00:00+12:002026-05-14T00:00:00+12:003f1b0126-8405-4d35-bbd7-fdec628a8ad3

Three days of hard work to clean up the old Pouri Hut site in Whanganui National Park has been a fitting send-off for a retiring Pipiriki ranger.

2026-05-14T00:00:00+12:002026-05-14T00:00:00+12:00b88cf312-0df6-4b8f-998f-420499a5f2b2

A new sausage bait targeting stoats is shaping up to be a valuable tool to protect kiwi and other native wildlife after impressive results in field trials.

2026-05-14T00:00:00+12:002026-05-14T00:00:00+12:00c9931ae7-853c-454e-a777-3450c9d87369

In what’s described as the highest classroom in New Zealand, Department of Conservation ranger Lisa Winterfeldt sits 1200 metres up a mountain to teach a group of 40 Year 12 students.

2026-05-12T00:00:00+12:002026-05-12T00:00:00+12:00b6373a06-7f95-41fa-8fdb-b1a9ecf551a8

West Coast based Heritage Project Lead Ranger Matt Ainge is preserving New Zealand heritage, one brick at a time.

2026-05-08T00:00:00+12:002026-05-08T00:00:00+12:00d2abab09-9cec-4f2d-be56-fd0925f0dfb8

Faster decisions, more jobs, and stronger protection for nature are at the centre of a landmark overhaul of New Zealand’s conservation system, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

2026-05-07T16:00:00+12:002026-05-07T16:00:00+12:00155ea45b-087a-4dac-8ac6-c9290e31d110

The Government is investing up to $7.1 million to upgrade six Great Rides cycle trails, strengthening regional tourism and safety, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say.

2026-05-07T11:00:00+12:002026-05-07T11:00:00+12:00a07a8936-7573-494d-a80c-0774e901a19e

Pioneer Energy is closing public access across its Wye Creek dam and South Branch pipeline while critical work is undertaken to understand how to make these structures more suitable for public use.

2026-05-07T00:00:00+12:002026-05-07T00:00:00+12:00fcba0dfd-3b29-4798-93a1-1960dd863423

Marine monitoring is underway on reefs and seafloor areas across the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana in the first year of new marine protections.

2026-05-06T12:00:00+12:002026-05-06T12:00:00+12:00ddd2df5b-0605-4be6-bb71-d170daa6fb78

A popular gateway to Kahurangi National Park should be reopened by Spring with repairs to a damaged road now underway, and tramping tracks have been upgraded for when people can get back out naturing.

2026-05-04T00:00:00+12:002026-05-04T00:00:00+12:0040c6cf6d-cff8-4c59-97af-fec455775407

A recent dip in mohua/yellowhead numbers in a remote South Westland forest shows how closely its fortunes are tied to predator control.

2026-05-04T00:00:00+12:002026-05-04T00:00:00+12:00902a25f6-109e-4618-9209-6fbe5dd56d1e

Waihohonu and Mangatepopo huts in Tongariro National Park can now be booked for winter adventures, with each operating as a serviced hut until the next Great Walk season begins.

2026-05-01T00:00:00+12:002026-05-01T00:00:00+12:007ecd3b76-49d7-4eca-9000-d841b8d3b8de

A weka on a walkabout around Wānaka likely self-introduced itself to the area by swimming from an island in Lake Wānaka.

2026-05-01T00:00:00+12:002026-05-01T00:00:00+12:00a13c1b33-41a5-456d-8db7-029a9b51bc2c

An intense week of musters in the Waiouru Military Training area has seen 58 wild Kaimanawa horses rehomed and nearly 100 mares given contraceptive treatment – but there's still more to do this year.

2026-05-01T00:00:00+12:002026-05-01T00:00:00+12:00aa651d8b-d15e-490c-928e-aa5b44dde6af

DOC is calling for any information about an alleged dog attack on a colony of little penguins/kororā.

2026-04-30T00:00:00+12:002026-04-30T00:00:00+12:0021801959-ef1a-43cb-b0f6-2e2be9eb10b5

Department of Conservation ranger Gary Hayes didn’t have time to think as he went to aid of a horse stuck in a float, close to death.

2026-04-30T00:00:00+12:002026-04-30T00:00:00+12:0076be9dcb-8d18-4975-a8f4-2d8768d90c3c

In rare, good news for a tiny Canterbury fish clinging to survival, DOC rangers have discovered a new population of the fish and created an ‘insurance’ population.

2026-04-30T00:00:00+12:002026-04-30T00:00:00+12:00bdfefdf2-f51d-49f6-90b1-7790865bf2db

More young women are heading out hunting and this has been reflected in the results for this year’s annual Pureora Hunting Competition.

2026-04-29T00:00:00+12:002026-04-29T00:00:00+12:007f53e044-df5c-4e8b-9f6b-ea0d9dd48e78

Taranaki duck hunters are reminded to carefully identify targets this season to ensure they are not shooting an endangered species.

2026-04-29T00:00:00+12:002026-04-29T00:00:00+12:00bd73f33b-61fa-4ce9-a38b-0c39c5e331ba

For the first time in more than a century Otago’s pakake /New Zealand sea lion population has produced more than 35 pups, putting it officially on track to breeding colony status.

2026-04-29T00:00:00+12:002026-04-29T00:00:00+12:00b09ed567-1e0b-4554-9cbc-b340b595c00f

Rare native Hochstetter’s frogs thought to have escaped from captivity during a flood in the 1970s have been breeding secretly in Lower Hutt for nearly 50 years – before being rediscovered by a young conservationist exploring the creek behind his house.

2026-04-28T00:00:00+12:002026-04-28T00:00:00+12:009b23e1e2-ab13-4aa5-b7c5-2c96ef976d55

New Zealand's native moths and butterflies are facing mounting challenges, with 60 years of world-leading evidence pointing to significant species declines in the eastern South Island.

2026-04-28T00:00:00+12:002026-04-28T00:00:00+12:00