Department Of Conservation

At Lake Papaitonga in the Horowhenua, a group of Manawatū rangers took on a challenge that had frustrated previous control efforts: how do you find and eliminate purple loosestrife in a complex wetland environment? Purple loosestrife. 📷: DOC Historically, helicopters have been the primary tool for both surveillance and control of purple loosestrife, however this method was proving inefficient.

For Ngāti Awa, conservation is not just about protecting native species, it’s also about restoring the relationship between people and te taiao and creating purposeful employment opportunities in environmental stewardship. This is the kaupapa of Korehāhā Whakahau – a Predator Free 2050 project in Whakatāne delivered by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.

Nature needs all of us, and the good news is that making a difference doesn’t always require heaps of time and energy. There are things we can do every single day to make a difference. So, wrap on your winter woollies, grab a couple mates and reconnect with nature this winter by doing something to care for it.

The latest Predator Free 2050 tool is a bio-degradable bait pod that can be distributed by a drone pilot with incredible accuracy. When the pods are released from the drone, they break open on impact releasing bait pellets for rats and possums to eat. This is an exciting new method for controlling introduced predators along sensitive boundaries or in remote areas that can’t be safely reached on foot. The Aerospread drone with a bait pod dispenser which is operated by a drone pilot.

Winter is the perfect time to pull on a warm jacket, step outside and reconnect with nature. So, we’ve asked our rangers to share some of their favourite winter walks. Cooler temperatures can make it tempting to stay indoors, but winter brings its own rewards on the tracks. Godley Head Loop Track. 📷: Fraser Rudman | DOC In winter, the tracks have fewer people, the mornings are crisp, you’ve got the flowing waterfalls and lush forests, and this all adds up to unique opportunities to get naturing.

If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, report it immediately to Biosecurity New Zealand’s Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99 66. New Zealand had its first detection of H5N1 bird flu in a single migratory seabird on 15 July 2026, a brown skua, after it was found on Petone Beach in Wellington.

By Abigail Monteith There’s something magical about staying in a hut. The smell of the old wooden walls, the sound of boots drying by the fire, the questionable mystery stain on the table that nobody wants to investigate… it’s all part of the experience. But spend one night in a hut and you’ll quickly discover something else: huts are where generations meet, and sometimes, where completely different ideas of “roughing it” collide.

Matariki and Puanga are stars that sit in the night sky together to signal the start of the Māori new year for different iwi. The nine stars of Matariki The pre-dawn rising of Matariki, the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades, marks for many Māori the arrival of the new year. Puanga is a single star, also known as Rigel. It’s not part of the Matariki cluster but appears in the evening sky shortly before Matariki rises each year.

DOC ranger Tim Groenendijk, Project Lead Heritage for the Lower North Island, has a unique role, he’s ensuring that the heritage of the region is maintained for future generations. He is one of ten specialist Heritage Ranger Project Leads across the country. Tim carefully inspects and photographs all aspects of the heritage hut. 📷: Nina Mercer History in the mountains Two days walk into the Ruahine ranges; Waterfall Hut stands as a quiet reminder of a rugged past.

Imagine, you’re sitting on the dunny late at night after a long day of tramping up to a beautiful backcountry hut. It’s pitch black and you feel something brush against your leg… “It’s just a leaf in the passing breeze” you say to yourself. Slowly you feel the unmistakable sensation of six tiny legs making their way up the inside of your pants. What do you do? Keep calm. There’s no reason to panic! Backcountry toilet at Eyre Mountains/Taka Rā Haka.