Hovering on the brink of extinction are the black stilt, also known as kakī, a wading bird endemic to New Zealand’s braided rivers in the South Island. The species became victims of predation and loss of habitat. They are one of the rarest birds in the world, with their numbers reduced to less than 200 […]
Environmentalist, journalist and author, Dave Hansford was recently awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to the environment. His recent book, Protecting Paradise, examines the debates surrounding the use of 1080 in New Zealand, and makes the case for urgent intervention to rescue dwindling native wildlife. Laura Keown sat down with him at Forest & Bird’s […]
Forty kākāriki have been released in the Far North this winter, as our Northland Advocate Dean Baigent-Mercer explains. Project Island Song is a shared vision for the restoration of an archipelago rich in native flora and fauna for all to enjoy. The seven wonders of Ipipiri are the pest-free islands located in the eastern Bay […]
Plastic is at our fingertips all day and every day; the keyboard, the mouse, kitchen utensils, drink bottles, and of course plastic bags. More plastic has been produced during the last decade than over the previous 100 years. The production of plastic uses around eight percent of the world’s oil production and plastic products make […]
Allocating just 1 percent of the government’s annual $96 billion spending to core conservation work would more than double the Department of Conservation’s current budget, suggests Alex Stone. The Government announcement of a predator-free goal for New Zealand by 2050 sounds good. But, so far, the budget for this is woefully inadequate and comes on […]
Great Barrier Island’s Mount Hobson (Hirakimata) stands 621 metres tall and is home to the largest breeding colony of black petrel (taiko) in the world. Ecologist Rachel Hufton shares her experience monitoring their populations. The slopes of Mt Hobson are covered in semi-mature forest, with the remnants of precious ancient conifer forests. The forest is […]
It has been 6 months since the announcement that New Zealand would be predator free by 2050 garnered worldwide attention. But Caroline Wood asks – how will we get there? Forest & Bird led New Zealand’s first predator-free success story when Auckland branch member, Mr. A. McDonald, from Waiheke Island, used a £5 government grant […]
Forest & Bird’s Central Otago-Lakes Branch recently visited the Kakī Recovery Centre in Twizel. There, they discovered how this critically endangered bird is being managed – as Rachel Hufton reports. Kakī (also known as the black stilt) are the rarest wading birds in the world, yet few know they exist. We wanted to raise awareness […]
For the last two and a half years Sue Fitchett, a Hauraki Islands Forest & Bird committee member has been collaborating on a brochure with the Waiheke SPCA on how to be a responsible pet owner. Here she tells us more about this often controversial subject. Yes, two and a half years is a long […]