Source: Radio New Zealand

Seafood New Zealand says claims from commercial fishing is allowed in two of 12 new High Protection Areas (HPAs) is misleading.

A convoy of recreational fishers travelled across Auckland in a rally on Saturday morning, towing boats. The One Ocean protest, co-organised by fishing enthusiast Ben Chissell, targeted aspects of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act and other proposed fishing reforms.

The law, which came into effect in October, created a group of new marine protected zones while also allowing exclusive use of two highly protected areas by commercial ring-net fishing operators. Protesters wanted the marine reserves to apply to everyone.

Seafood New Zealand chief executive Lisa Futschek said one exception was made for five small-scale ring-net fishers who provide kaimoana to local communities and marae.

She said claims from protesters that commercial fishing was allowed in two of 12 reserves was misleading.

“[Five small-scale ring-net fishers] have been given a just transition. They are able to fish within a very small section of two of the HPAs, but it’s a grandfathered provision – so that means when all of those individual fishers exit, they can’t be replaced. They can’t pass on that exception.”

Seafood NZ assured One Ocean protesters the government was not planning to add any species to the quota management system.

She said what was being proposed was if marlin or some reef fish were caught as by-catch, they would be able to be kept and sold.

“What is on the table are two proposals which would see certain species, marlin and some reef fish, able to be sold commercially when they are caught as bycatch by commercial fishers. So that’s a very, very different thing.”

Despite concerns of traffic congestion, by 10am Saturday, the hundreds of people driving in part of the convoy had mostly passed over the Harbour Bridge with minimal disruption.

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones previously said it was “a bit late” to protest, as recreational fishing lobby group LegaSea had “signed up to this policy some years ago”. LegaSea denied this. Chissell said the One Ocean Protest was a separate entity.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Hawaiian waka will be on display for people to see at Mangonui’s main wharf in Northland on Sunday.

Hikianalia is accompanying waka Hōkūleʻa to take part in celebrations to mark 40 years since Hōkūleʻa visited.

It sparked the revival of building ocean-going waka and traditional navigation, led by the late Sir Hek Busby.

Hikianalia will be on display between 10 and 2pm, and will then head to a dry dock in Auckland for maintenance.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Taranaki study will investigate the health of one of New Zealand’s most iconic marine species – the kōura/spiny red rock lobster.

The collaboration between Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama and the Department of Conservation (DOC) will monitor kōura off the north Taranaki coast, comparing abundance, size, sex ratio and health inside the Parininihi Marine Reserve and several points outside the protected area.

DOC marine reserves ranger Oscar Cotter said the species, commonly known as crayfish (Jasus edwardsii), was a keystone in the coastal environment, playing an essential role in maintaining ecosystem health, but they were under significant pressure from commercial and recreational fishing.

“Kōura are a key indicator species in determining the success of marine reserves DOC is responsible for,” Cotter said.

“In marine reserves like Parininihi, they are fully protected and able to recover from fishing impacts. In marine reserves, people can see our marine life and fish species as nature intended.

“They are great places for people to enjoy naturing in our oceans and learn about the species that live there.”

Cotter said three days of field work were scheduled to begin on 1 December, with craypots placed at 50 specific locations inside the marine reserve and a further 50 points outside it.

All kōura caught would be returned to the sea, once they’d been measured and details recorded.

“We’ll be using a commercial vessel for this work and, as the boat will be inside the marine reserve, we wanted to pro-actively inform local residents and boaties,” Cotter said.

“Parininihi Marine Reserve is significant to the communities of the area, and DOC and Ngāti Tama feel it’s important to alert residents to the work, so there are no concerns or confusion about the commercial vehicle appearing to be harvesting koura in the marine reserve.”

Kaitiaki Taiao, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama, Troy Tawhiao said the iwi were fully onboard with the work.

“Through this kōura survey, Ngāti Tama shares our mātauranga and strengthens our connection to Parininihi as kaitiaki,” he said. “It also helps us educate our uri and wider community about the health of our moana.”

DOC staff and Ngāti Tama representatives would be onboard the vessel at all times during the field work, which was reliant on good weather and sea conditions.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A new law change allowing key immigration decisions to bypass established processes and earlier judges decisions, and relying on vague definitions, will put vulnerable migrants at greater risk, an immigration lawyer says.

Lawyer Alastair McClymont is ringing the alarm, after the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Bill passed its third reading in parliament, saying the changes to the Immigration Act will put vulnerable migrants at greater risk.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford claims the bill is “introducing safeguards for vulnerable people”.

She said New Zealand needed an immigration system that was fit for purpose and responsive to risk, and the bill strengthened the integrity and flexibility of the system, acted on independent review recommendations and shared costs more fairly across users.

The bill created a new offence for knowingly seeking or receiving premiums for employment, either in New Zealand or offshore, with penalties of up to seven years in prison or a $100,000 fine. It also lifted the threshold for detaining asylum seekers and introduced electronic monitoring as a less restrictive option.

Stanford said the changes meant residents could no longer avoid conviction or sentencing by arguing that a criminal record might affect their immigration status, putting them on the same footing as citizens.

Other changes included a broader levy base, judicial warrants for out-of-hours compliance visits, extra safeguards for asylum seekers under warrants of commitment, clearer deportation rules for residents convicted of offences and a new power to cancel residence visas for people who posed a security risk, but could not be deported, because they might face torture.

McClymont told RNZ the bill would increase risk to vulnerable migrants, because it allowed key immigration decisions to bypass established processes – including decisions previously made by judges.

“Taking the decision-making power away from experienced and trained judges when looking at mitigating factors of convictions, and putting that in the hands of inexperienced, untrained immigration officials increases the risk of separating families and creating significant harm,” he said.

McClymont was also concerned about what he described as “a lot of very vague definitions” that could be interpreted in many different ways.

“That raises the risk that the bill is not much more than a ‘Trojan horse’ for potentially harsher action against migrants in the future, depending on how particular phrases are read.”

Failing to define key terms was dangerous, he said.

“Is it going to be up to the government of the day to decide what a security risk is?”

McClymont said similar shifts happening in the United States and the United Kingdom were starting to seep into New Zealand law and policy.

“That’s a very big concern, because a lot of that is dog-whistle politics – blaming immigrants, blaming refugees, associating them with security risks and mass arrivals – instead of policy that provides proper care and support for migrant families, and ensures refugee applications are processed promptly and fairly.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand has won a number of international awards, including being named the world’s safest airline for 2025 by AirlineRatings.com.

Alongside the top gong for safety, the airline was named the best in the South Pacific by APEX, and claimed Oceania’s Leading Airline and Oceania’s Leading Airline Brand at the World Travel Awards 2025.

Air New Zealand also won the Forbes Travel Guide’s Innovation of the Year for its Skycouch seats, while readers of USA TODAY’s 10 BEST Awards voted the airline among the world’s favourites, placing second for Best Airline, second for Best Cabin Crew, second for Best Airline Food, and third for both Business Class and Inflight Entertainment.

Alongside these awards, Air New Zealand was ranked as the third best airline in the world by AirlineRatings.com, and was named Australia’s most trusted airline in the Finder Awards as well as taking out the top value frequent flyer programme.

The airline was also awarded for its sustainability efforts, by taking out the Asia Pacific CAPA Environmental Sustainability Award of the Year for 2025.

Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien said the recognition reflects the talent, creativity and commitment of the airline’s people.

“It’s fantastic to see Air New Zealand recognised alongside some of the biggest and best carriers in the world. It’s a reflection of New Zealand and where we come from, as well as our people on the ground and in the air who work tirelessly to deliver an experience that feels genuinely Kiwi.

“These awards belong to our team, and to our customers, who continue to support and believe in what we do. Our teams have ensured our manaaki and care continue to shine through, and it’s that unwavering commitment that’s clearly turning heads on the global stage,” O’Brien said.

Beyond the skies, Air New Zealand was again named New Zealand’s Most Attractive Employer by recruitment agency Ranstad, a title it has now held for three consecutive years.

“Awards are wonderful recognition, but they’re also motivation to keep moving forward,” said O’Brien.

“We’ll continue to innovate, evolve and do what we do best, taking care of our customers and showcasing the very best of New Zealand to the world.”

The awards come as Air New Zealand cabin crew prepare to strike in December after months of negotiations failed to secure a fair deal on pay and conditions.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Kereama Wright (Te Arawa), senior member of haka rōpū Ngāti Whakaue and Te Matatini 2025 champion, says kapa haka is a form of rongoā – healing body, mind and spirit – and one of the strongest expressions of Māori culture.

“It’s a vehicle for us to tell stories – stories of triumph, stories of oppression, stories about the birth of our children – but it’s a vehicle to continue our history, our stories and our legacy, and pass it on to our future generations,” he told RNZ.

Before cameras and social media, Māori preserved knowledge and stories through whakairo, waiata and mōteatea that traversed generations, Wright said.

“That’s why it’s important for me to perform and keep practising kapa haka – because it’s about an expression of our culture.”

Wright said kapa haka was also a statement of survival.

“It’s telling the oppressor that you’re never going to kill us, you’re never going to get rid of us, no matter how you try. Despite all the legislation you can put in place, we’re still here and we’re not going anywhere.

The whakapapa of haka

Wright said the origins of haka could be traced back to Tāne-Rore and Hine-Rēhia.

Tāne-Rore, the personification of shimmering heatwaves and the origin of dance, is the son of Tamanui-Te-Rā (the Sun) and Hine-Raumati (the Summer Maiden). When the land is hot and the air shimmers, Tāne-Rore performs the haka for his mother.

This is represented on stage through the trembling hand movement, known as wiriwiri or ‘Te Haka a Tāne-Rore’.

Hine-te-Rēhia is the goddess of entertainment, pleasure and games. Her influence ensures audiences are entertained and engaged, known as ‘Ngā Mahi a Hine-te-Rēhia’, performed on the stage or Te Whaitua o Rēhia.

“Over time, haka was used by our ancestors to prepare for battle,” Wright said. “Mentally, physically and spiritually.”

Today, haka is seen on the international stage, for example with the All Blacks, used to honour opponents or guests.

“All of those various expressions are still relevant today,” he said.

“Nowadays, it’s a heavily contested competition, but at the root of something like Te Matatini is practising our culture, keeping it alive and letting the world know that we’re still here.”

At the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education 2025, which took place over the week in Tāmaki Makaurau, crowds were given the opportunity to see the Matatini champions in action.

Wright said the message Ngāti Whakaue brought to the kaupapa was ‘Poua te Aroha’ – “share the love and spread the love”.

“It’s an ingredient that’s absent in many countries around the world, but it’s at the heart of everything we do as Indigenous peoples.”

He believes all indigenous cultures have a lot in common.

“We are fighting for our survival – the survival of our language, the retention of our land and the survival of our culture,” he said. “If we can’t practice now, if we don’t continue practising our culture and the teachings of our ancestors, then the coloniser will win.

“It’s important that we keep practising, and pass on variations of kapa haka, culture and dance to our children, so that our stories can live on.”

He also described kapa haka as a form of rongoā or Māori medicine.

“Not only for the body, physically, but the movement, the sound, the beats. It’s been scientifically proven that it can reduce dementia – it’s rongoā for illnesses like that.”

“You’ll see groups who live by the sea dance differently to groups like Tūhoe, who live in the bush. The movements we perform depict the environments we come from.

“We are the environment. That’s why it’s important for us to keep moving the way we do – it benefits mental, physical and spiritual health as well.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A person and their dog have been winched to safety by helicopter, after getting stuck on a cliff in Otago.

Emergency services were called about 1pm Saturday and responded to the incident close to Thompson Hill, near Arrowtown, along the Twin Rivers Trail.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the pair had to be rescued using harnesses and a helicopter, as they were trapped about 60 metres down.

The person became stuck, when they tried to rescue their dog and found they could not get back up to the track.

Two crews of firefighters from Frankton and one crew from Arrowtown were sent to the scene.

The rescue was wrapped up by 4pm Saturday, the spokesperson said, and there were no reports of injuries.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say it may be some time before they can provide answers to the family of four who died in a housefire in the Manawatū town of Sanson this month.

On Saturday, Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham confirmed the names of those who died in the 15 November blaze – Goldie May Iris Field, 1, Hugo John Field, 5, August James Field, 7, and 36-year-old Dean Michael Field.

Grantham said the whānau were receiving “wrap-around support”, as they dealt with the devastating loss, and acknowledged the grief felt throughout the community.

“The scene examination at the property has been completed and this was handed back to family on Thursday morning,” he said.

Grantham stressed that the investigation into the fatal incident remained active.

“Police’s investigation into the fatal incident is ongoing and it will take time for us to get answers for the family,” Grantham said.

“We would like to acknowledge the community for their outpouring of support for the family, as they come to terms with this tragedy.

“I would also like to thank the many police staff who have worked tirelessly over the last week and continue to work on this difficult investigation.”

Police have not released any further details about the cause of the fire.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is taking the Crown to the High Court over proposed Conservation Act changes, claiming the plans are a threat to its Waitangi Treaty settlement.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka proposed the changes in August to address a backlog of concession applications that he said “sometimes take years to process”.

The changes included streamlining and centralising conservation land management, and a review of Section 4 of the Conservation Act, requiring the Department of Conservation (DOC) to give effect to the principles of the treaty.

Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa told RNZ the proposal would shift decision-making from conservation boards and the Conservation Authority to the minister.

He said the Ngāi Tahu treaty settlement guaranteed the iwi representation in decision-makng and the proposal would lead to the privatisation of public conservation land.

“What they are proposing is that concessions may be granted up to 60 years for critical infrastructure and that essentially means that, on public conservation land, it’s going to be privatised by stealth.

“It’s alienating Māori, it’s alienating Ngāi Tahu, it’s alienating New Zealanders from the whenua.”

Tipa said the iwi had been left with no other choice and taking action in the High Court was not a step taken lightly.

“That’s the problem iwi are confronted with. Governments come and go, and they have no institutional memory of their commitment, so we are compelled to spend significant amounts of our settlements defending and protecting our settlements.

“Every time a new government comes into power, we are having to educate and re-educate on what our claims are, what they mean, how they work with legislation.

“At the end of the day, treaty settlements didn’t appear our of thin air. They were the culmination of sustained legal political and social dialogue spanning decades.”

Two-thirds of public conservation land sits within the Ngāi Tahu rohe and Tipa said vital contribution of localised knowledge would be lost.

“We always stand at the ready to engage with government departments, with ministers and ministries to help shape policy, and test thinking.

“Unfortunately, the advice we attempted to give fell on deaf ears and they went ahead with these proposals that would undermine the integrity of the Ngāi Tahu settlement.”

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka told RNZ he had been advised Ngāi Tahu had taken the matter to court.

“Our government remains focused on delivering clear, decisive conservation reform that strengthens biodiversity and provides greater certainty for communities,” he said. “We are progressing this work diligently.”

Tipa said the High Court action was only the first step and the iwi was determined to hold the Crown to the promises it made almost 30 years ago, when the Deed of Settlement was signed.

“I would like to see the changes scrapped, but if they don’t, we stand ready to engage,” he said.

“I don’t have a lot of faith. I’ve seen this government consistently overturn the rule of law.

“They don’t listen to the majority of New Zealanders. There’s a minority in this country that has a very large powerbase in this country and, unless we stand up and take action, I don’t have a lot of faith in the future for Māori under this government.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are responding to a serious crash in Matamata on Saturday afternoon, after a pedestrian was struck by a car.

Emergency services were called to Manuka Street about 1.50pm. Initial indications suggested there were serious injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit was notified and the road was closed, while emergency services were at the scene.

Motorists were asked to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Some days Brad Windust’s job gets repetitive: throw a ball again and again for Wero.

Wero is one of the few dogs in Aotearoa certified by the Department of Conservation to sniff out cat poo.

“He just loves to play,” says Windust. “When he finds cat scat and lies down to show me where it is, then his reward is his ball, which he loves.”

Windust is a trapper who travels the length of the country and offshore islands trapping feral cats and stoats for various organisations.

His dog is an essential tool and Windust is keen to make sure people understand the German short-haired pointer only detects poo, which helps Windust know where to put traps. Wero doesn’t attack the cats. The muzzle Wero wears while working, along with his high-visibility coat are part of his working attire, much the same way a construction site worker always has a helmet.

There are days where he doesn’t cover much ground, as he has to stop and throw the ball for Wero so frequently.

“People don’t see cats because they hunt at night, but wherever you are in this country, not far from you there’s a feral cat. When you have a dog that finds scat you soon realise they are everywhere,” says Windust.

He sees firsthand the damage feral cats do. Little blue penguins and woodpigeons are favourite cat snacks, as are lizards.

On the remote sub-antarctic Auckland Islands he’s seen the devastation they cause to endemic shags and other birds. As much as cats benefit from being in a country where native species developed without defences against mammalian predators, it can still be a miserable existence.

“All the cats on Auckland Islands had no bottom teeth from ripping limpets off the rocks to eat them,” he says.

Nobody knows for sure how many feral cats there are in the country, but one estimate is 2.4 million. Being naturally wary, cats aren’t an easy species to get rid of. Trapping is time-consuming and work is still being done to perfect a poison-bait formulation specific to cats, which will hold its form when dropped from a helicopter.

New breeds are adding another wrinkle to the feral cat problem. In the 1990s, the government approved the importing of Bengal cats, which are a cross between a domestic cat and an Asian leopard cat. With their unique leopard spots and large build, they’re a prized pet.

Although New Zealand’s rules state Bengal cats coming into the country need to be domesticated for at least five generations, Windust says they are still born hunters, bigger than a standard moggie, excellent at climbing and unafraid of water.

It’s what happens when one strays and breeds with the feral cat population that has Windust worried.

“Those genetics can go through and increase the size of our feral cat population, which is a real concern for our kiwi, because these big cats could easily take down an adult kiwi.”

He’s already trapped a feral Bengal cat, and a feral Maine Coon cross, which is another large-growing breed. The Main Coon cross was so big it couldn’t be caught with a standard cat trap. Windust believes these larger cats could easily jump over some predator free fences.

“These cats are in the wild now, they’re breeding. They are going to be absolutely devastating for our wildlife.”

He wants a ban on the breeding and sale of these breeds. He would also like to see stricter rules in place for cat owners, such as desexing and microchipping. Finally, he wants cats contained to their owner’s property.

Slinking through the cracks

For the most part, very few rules exist for cat ownership.

Some local government bodies have introduced cat-specific rules. Owning a Bengal cat is banned on Stewart Island and in the rest of Southland a permit must be sought to own one. The breed is included in Environment Southland’s pest management plan. Council staff monitor online trading sites and pages to make sure people are following rules.

The breeds aren’t banned elsewhere in the country, but there is a patchwork of councils with rules requiring cats be microchipped and some councils have limits on how many cats are allowed per household. Far North District Council recently introduced a rule requiring desexing as well as microchipping.

A national Dog Control Act has been in place since 1996, but no similar nationwide legislation is in place for cats, although attempts have been made.

A petition proposing registration and desexing of domestic cats found favour with the Environment Select Committee, which recommended the rules be put in place. However, in December 2024, the National-led coalition government opted to reject the committee’s recommendation, saying there was no scope to progress the proposal and that it wasn’t a priority.

That position took on a different hue this week, when Conservation Minister Tama Potaka suddenly – and unexpectedly – announced feral cats will be included in Predator Free 2050. Potaka, who called feral cats “stone cold killers”, said the questions about what the change meant for regulation of domestic cats were “for another day”. But he added: “I’m sure that our government, at some stage will look at that more intensely,” noting the interest National Party backbencher Barbara Kuriger has shown in the topic.

Kuriger and Green MP Celia Wade-Brown have a Member’s Bill sitting in what’s known as the biscuit tin at Parliament, which calls for the microchipping of domestic cats.

If regulations don’t form part of Predator Free 2050 changes, the bill may find other paths into law.

Kuriger is hopeful that if the bill isn’t drawn from the tin soon she may be able to get it through via a new mechanism, where if it has the support of 61 backbench MPs it can go straight to a first reading.

“Ministers are so busy doing all sorts of things, in my view, this is something that Parliament could take care of. It would give it longevity.”

She thinks if some small changes are made to the bill, there’s a chance it might reach the magic 61 number needed to get the wheels in motion.

“I think we’d all agree that we want to save our native birds and our native species. I don’t think there’s any disagreement on that discussion.”

Kuriger sees a link between companion cats and feral cats. Better controls of companion cats can turn the tap off, stopping them from adding to the feral cat problem.

She wants cat owners to be responsible for their pets and for them to be microchipped and registered. That way, if cats become lost they can be reunited with owners instead of becoming strays. After the Christchurch earthquake, 86 percent of microchipped pets were returned to their families.

“We’ll just keep making more of them [feral cats] if we don’t deal with the issue.”

Although Kuriger says she favours desexing requirements, the bill doesn’t include it. It was omitted to minimise the cost on current cat owners, she says, but it could be included in the future, with plenty of lead time built into the requirement.

Another campaign is being waged by a group of seven different organisations including the SPCA, Predator Free NZ Trust, and the New Zealand Veterinary Association. The National Cat Management Group is campaigning for a national cat management act to be introduced. The group splits cats into three categories; companion, stray and feral, and suggests different strategies for each group.

Its catch line is “every cat in a lap” but it recognises feral cats are unlikely to be lap cats. It calls for a humane approaches to managing cats, including killing feral cats.

The other measures this group supports look to stem the flow of companion cats to strays, and the proliferation of stray cats into what can eventually become feral cats.

Chistine Sumner is a science officer with the SPCA who focuses on cats.

For each of the three categories of cats, she says the goal is to minimise their impact on wildlife. For companion cats, this might mean owners keeping them contained in areas such as a “catio”.

For friendly stray cats, the organisation would like them to have a home. Otherwise, if there is a stray cat colony that isn’t affecting wildlife, a trapping and desexing approach might be used to reduce their numbers over time.

For feral cats, the organisation accepts killing them is the best approach.

“When you get down to it, it’s currently realistically our only option at this point.”

The SPCA advocates only humane methods be used for this and does not support poisons.

“It just takes too long and the things they experience are too harmful.”

The preferred method is a live capture cage trap and the use of a gun to swiftly dispatch the cat.

“We want to see more money, more funding because we think we can do better.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A convoy of recreational fishers have made their way across the Auckland Harbour Bridge as they to Auckland CBD for a rally on Saturday morning.

The One Ocean protest, co-organised by fishing enthusiast Ben Chissell, targets aspects of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act and other proposed fishing reforms.

The law, which came into effect in October, created a group of new marine protected zones while also allowing exclusive use of two highly protected areas by commercial ring-net fishing operators.

Chissell earlier said the protest was not against commercial fishing but his position was that if the Hauraki Gulf was so badly depleted that areas needed to be shut off, then no-one should fish them.

He said protesters would come from all over to join the convoy on its 30km journey from the Albany Park n Ride departing at 8.30am.

“We’ve got people coming from Kaitaia, Ahipara, Tauranga, Whitianga, Waikato, all over the show. We’ve got guys putting their boats on trailers, getting on the ferry from Waiheke and Great Barrier and coming over.

“So it’s going to be a lot bigger than I guess even when we initially hoped.”

A New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) spokesperson earlier said the convoy would be using the Oteha Valley Rd on-ramp and State Highway 16 Port off-ramp, when travelling to and from SH1.

“This could lead to congestion in those areas and may mean the Park ‘n’ Ride is busier than usual.

“NZTA and AT (Auckland Transport) will be closely monitoring the impact on the city’s network through our joint Auckland Traffic Operations Centre and will notify the public of any significant disruption through our usual channels, including the AT Mobile app and NZTA website Journey Planner.”

Despite concerns of traffic congestion, by 10am, the hundreds of people driving in part of the convoy had mostly passed over the Harboru Bridge with minimal disruption.

There was a police presence at the Albany Park ‘n’ Ride and police escorted the protest along the route while parking wardens were in place to manage the roll out, according to protest information.

There should be no “boat riding”, organisers said and banners and flags must be secured.

“This is a peaceful protest, and our goal is a safe and successful event. Please use common sense, look out for one another, and remember, we’re all in this together,” the One Ocean website said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A convoy of recreational fishers have made their way across the Auckland Harbour Bridge as they to Auckland CBD for a rally on Saturday morning.

The One Ocean protest, co-organised by fishing enthusiast Ben Chissell, targets aspects of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act and other proposed fishing reforms.

The law, which came into effect in October, created a group of new marine protected zones while also allowing exclusive use of two highly protected areas by commercial ring-net fishing operators.

Chissell earlier said the protest was not against commercial fishing but his position was that if the Hauraki Gulf was so badly depleted that areas needed to be shut off, then no-one should fish them.

He said protesters would come from all over to join the convoy on its 30km journey from the Albany Park n Ride departing at 8.30am.

“We’ve got people coming from Kaitaia, Ahipara, Tauranga, Whitianga, Waikato, all over the show. We’ve got guys putting their boats on trailers, getting on the ferry from Waiheke and Great Barrier and coming over.

“So it’s going to be a lot bigger than I guess even when we initially hoped.”

A New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) spokesperson earlier said the convoy would be using the Oteha Valley Rd on-ramp and State Highway 16 Port off-ramp, when travelling to and from SH1.

“This could lead to congestion in those areas and may mean the Park ‘n’ Ride is busier than usual.

“NZTA and AT (Auckland Transport) will be closely monitoring the impact on the city’s network through our joint Auckland Traffic Operations Centre and will notify the public of any significant disruption through our usual channels, including the AT Mobile app and NZTA website Journey Planner.”

Despite concerns of traffic congestion, by 10am, the hundreds of people driving in part of the convoy had mostly passed over the Harboru Bridge with minimal disruption.

There was a police presence at the Albany Park ‘n’ Ride and police escorted the protest along the route while parking wardens were in place to manage the roll out, according to protest information.

There should be no “boat riding”, organisers said and banners and flags must be secured.

“This is a peaceful protest, and our goal is a safe and successful event. Please use common sense, look out for one another, and remember, we’re all in this together,” the One Ocean website said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The teenager who died in a crash on a Far North Beach a week ago has been named as Samuel James Herdman.

Police released the boy’s name on Saturday morning.

A spokesperson said the crash involving a 4WD on Tokerau Beach, on the Karikari Peninsula, was reported to police just before 7.30pm on 14 November.

Fire and Emergency NZ said at the time crews had to work to free one person from the wreck.

Sam, 17, of Pukenui, died at the scene.

The Houhora Big Game and Sports Fishing Club posted a heartfelt tribute to Sam on Facebook three days later.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of valued club member and local, Samuel Herdman,” the post read.

“Sam was an avid hunter gatherer, with fishing running through his veins. He landed some impressive fish through the weigh station over the years, such as a 131.2kg striped marlin when he was just 12 1/2 years-old.

“Sam, your enthusiasm for the sport will inspire many future generations of young anglers, for many years to come.”

A funeral notice on behalf of the Herdman and Gbric families said Sam was the loved son of Jason and Sharlene and treasured older brother of Isabella.

The family acknowledged the first responders and the Watson family for their care on the beach that day.

Two other people who were injured in the crash were taken to hospital in what was at the time understood to be critical and moderate conditions.

One was airlifted to Starship Hospital in Auckland, and the other transported to Kaitaia Hospital.

Both had now been discharged from hospital, the spokesperson said.

“Police extend our sympathies to Samuel’s friends and loved ones for their loss.”

Through the police Sam’s family had asked for privacy as they grieved his death.

Police were now conducting enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Thousands and thousands of kiwifruit pass between the gloved fingers of research technologist Megan Wood, and she reaches for them just as a consumer might.

“Essentially, I just feel them, and I think I would eat that one.

“We’ve been doing it for years, so my best guess is usually pretty good.”

She’s a dab hand at analysing the fruit inside and out, working in the sensory lab at the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC) in Te Puke where the focus is on developing the kiwifruit of the future.

But that first gut feel is followed by a thorough analysis of every bit of the fruit, followed by taste tests and off-site examinations for nutritional benefits.

A kiwifruit may have too big a knobbly bit on its bottom – “We have had people in the past crack a tooth on it”; and cavities – “If the cavity is too big, too many critters will live in there, and we can’t export it.”

Then there are other features like shape, colour and sugar levels to grade and record.

Established in 2021, the KBC’s Te Puke site is the headquarters for growing and testing new kiwifruit cultivars.

Kiwifruit is New Zealand’s largest horticultural export, worth $3.9 billion in the year ended June 2025, following 2024’s record crop.

KBC – which also has trial orchards in Kerikeri, Motueka, Gisborne and Italy – is a joint venture between Zespri and Plant and Food Research, now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute.

It’s led by chief executive Matt Glenn.

“We’re sort of the grease in the wheels between the researchers in the laboratory and Zespri, who are the commercialisation partner, and that’s really why we set up the joint venture as well, because we can focus really on deploying the technology, implementing it, and then driving it through to a commercial outcome.”

And that process is a lengthy one – it can take up to 25 years from the initial idea to actual fruit on the shelf.

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Glenn said they start with a “concept” requested by Zespri and from there develop “elite parents” from raw germplasm originating in Sichuan, China, a process which takes four or five years.

It takes another five years for seedlings to grow and produce the required fruit at KBC’s orchards around the country.

“Out of those 30 or 40,000 that we plant as seedlings every year, there’s probably about two or 300 that go into the next stage, which is the clonal commercial testing.”

That can take another five years.

“After 15 years, we might go back to Zespri and say, ‘hey, do you remember 15 years ago you said you’d like a kiwifruit that look like this? Well, we think here are some candidates’, and we present them to the Zespri board, and they go … ‘they look pretty good, we think we’d like to have a bet on those’, because it’s quite a big bet they’re making at that stage.”

They then put them into the hands of the growers and grow them at hectare scale, before getting the fruit to market and saying “yeah, that’s a winner, we’re going to commercialise it”.

The Te Puke headquarters has 40 hectares of trial orchards as well as laboratories and a cool store which tests the harvested fruit’s resilience at the handling and storage stage.

Breeding for a future climate

Aside from improvements to existing varieties, KBC is also developing cultivars which will be able to cope with the changing climate, and its 30ha orchard in Kerikeri in Northland is an important testing ground, Glenn told Country Life.

“The modelling that we’re seeing is telling us that the climate in the Bay of Plenty, where 80 percent of kiwifruit are grown, will be like Northland by about 2050, 2060.

“We have put [the cultivars] under that pressure, that evolutionary pressure, effectively of warmer, wetter temperatures than we get down here in the Bay … so by the time the Bay looks like that we know that we will have cultivars that will work successfully down here.”

Increasing intense weather events are also considered in the breeding programme, with a trial orchard in Italy which is breeding new root stocks to deal with very wet heavy soils.

“At the same time, we’re going to have areas, that are going to have soils that are salinating, or soils that are very dry, so we’ve actually got to be looking at every extreme in just about everything that we do.”

Glenn said successful fruit pass tests in three different areas – they have all the things a consumer wants, good yield and resilience for the grower and are supply chain ready.

“We’ve got to make sure that the fruit don’t have spikes on them that so they [don’t] puncture other fruit as they go through the process, got to make sure that they’re really hardy, so you can pick them while they’re quite firm, but then they’ll go through the supply chain really well.

“If any one of those three things is missing, the likelihood is that the fruit won’t be successful.”

Glenn said they were also working on developing a green kiwifruit “that may not need some of the chemical inputs that the farmers use traditionally”.

Speeding up the process

Artificial intelligence and precision breeding, also known as gene editing, could help speed up the lengthy process, Glenn said.

AI will help in decision-making with the large amount of data they collect but “you’ve still got to ground truth all the things that you do, so you’ve got to put seeds in the ground and grow them, and look at the fruit, and look at multiple fruit, and see if that’s really going to be sustainable”.

“What we’re particularly interested in is the precision breeding. Some people call it gene editing, but we call it precision breeding, where you’re making really small base pair level changes.

“You’re not introducing any DNA, and you might be just up-regulating or down-regulating particular genes within the genome, so what you’re doing is you’re maximising the potential of the genetics that are already in the plant.”

But he said they can’t use the technology, being used in contained greenhouses and labs at the moment, until there’s a change in legislation.

“We just think we need to be a bit more sophisticated than we’ve been over the last 30 years of having a really blunt legal instrument to deal with new technologies that are going to really help us advance the industry.”

Learn more:

• Find out more about the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre here

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A convoy of recreational fishers is expected to delay traffic as it makes its way across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, along Tamaki Drive and onto Mission Bay on Saturday morning.

The One Ocean protest, co-organised by fishing enthusiast Ben Chissell, targets aspects of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act and other proposed fishing reforms.

The law, which came into effect in October, created a group of new marine protected zones while also allowing exclusive use of two highly protected areas by commercial ring-net fishing operators.

Chissell earlier said the protest was not against commercial fishing but his position was that if the Hauraki Gulf was so badly depleted that areas needed to be shut off, then no-one should fish them.

He said protesters would come from all over to join the convoy on its 30km journey from the Albany Park n Ride departing at 8.30am.

“We’ve got people coming from Kaitaia, Ahipara, Tauranga, Whitianga, Waikato, all over the show. We’ve got guys putting their boats on trailers, getting on the ferry from Waiheke and Great Barrier and coming over.

“So it’s going to be a lot bigger than I guess even when we initially hoped.”

A spokesperson for the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) told the NZ Herald the protest could cause congestion across the city.

The convoy would enter State Highway 1 via the Oteha Valley Road on-ramp and head toward the Port via SH16 and then to Kohimarama Road via Tamaki Drive.

There would be a police presence at the Albany Park ‘n’ Ride and police would escort the protest along the route while parking wardens were in place to manage the roll out, according to protest information.

There should be no “boat riding”, organisers said and banners and flags must be secured.

“This is a peaceful protest, and our goal is a safe and successful event. Please use common sense, look out for one another, and remember, we’re all in this together,” the One Ocean website said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Clarification: RNZ has updated the copy to clarify the company dealing with DOC site parking hardware and fees collection and enforcement is Stellar, not Stellar Projects. RNZ received incorrect company name information from DOC.​

Explainer – Rolling up to some of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attractions will soon become a little more expensive, as parking fees begin at some of Aotearoa’s hot spots in December.

It’s starting as a trial run at three popular Department of Conservation (DOC) sites but if it’s successful it could expand further.

Here’s what you’ll pay and where it will take effect.

Where are parking fees being launched?

Parking fees are set to begin at Aoraki/Mount Cook, Punakaiki/Pancake Rocks and Franz Josef/Wairau in December.

It’s a pilot programme expected to last until June 2026.

“We expect a final date to be announced at the end of the month (November) following the install and testing on paid parking equipment,” Department of Conservation director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson said.

How much will parking cost?

Parking will be $5 per hour.

The first 20 minutes will be free to allow for drop-offs and pick-ups or people staying for a brief time.

• Read more: Department of Conservation information on the fees

For Aoraki Mt Cook there will be a daily rate of $25 per day, while at Franz Josef and Punakaiki there will be a daily rate of $20.

Commercial tourism operators who hold a valid concession will be granted a parking fee exemption during the pilot.

Will even locals have to pay to park?

Yes, but local district residents can get a reduced lower-cost annual pass.

There will be annual passes for locals – $10 per year per vehicle – which allows for unlimited access. For Franz Jozef and Punakaiki, Buller, Grey and Westland districts residents will be eligible, while for Aoraki Mt Cook it’s those living within the Mackenzie District.

Regular visitors to the regions who aren’t residents of those districts can also get an annual pass for $60 a year.

Wilson said free parking for locals was one of the options considered, but, “In the end, the cost of the local permit is set low to acknowledge the special relationship residents have with their whenua.”

The parking strategy was adopted after considering information from stakeholders, public submissions, market research and evaluating more than 40 car parks around the world, including 16 in New Zealand.

“The market research helped us understand typical rates and fee structures for paid parking at similar sites, and one finding was that the average hourly charge for car parking internationally is NZ$6.40 per hour,” DOC said in its analysis.

The group Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) consulted on the proposal.

“TIA supports user charges where they directly contribute to maintaining and improving infrastructure, but only when they are fair and enhance the visitor experience,” its chief executive Rebecca Ingram said.

Ingram said the TIA would “welcome the introduction of low-cost annual passes for New Zealand residents, which ensures Kiwis can continue to access public conservation spaces affordably”.

While the fees may surprise some, they aren’t the first parking fees for popular attractions. Milford Sound has charged $10 an hour for some of its parking lots since 2019, operated by Milford Sound Tourism.

Milford Sound has charged for some parking since 2019. Photo: MSeses / Creative Commons

What happens if you don’t pay?

There won’t be any towing or wheel clamps used, according to DOC’s engagement report.

Cameras will record the entry and exit of vehicles and their registration information.

Parking fees will be enforced by outside company Stellar, who are installing the paid parking hardware.

But considering many tourists will be from overseas, how exactly will breach notices be enforced?

Wilson said that DOC plans to make the parking process easy and understandable.

“The primary goal is to make parking payment as simple and accessible as possible for visitors, which will minimise the need for issuing breach notices. Measures in place include offering multiple payment options where feasible, providing clear and obvious signage, and using universal, icon-based messaging with large touch screens on the parking machines.”

If tourists are using a rental car and get a breach notice, Stellar can follow up with the rental company, she said.

“In terms of rental cars, standard car rental agreements typically enable the rental business to directly charge a driver’s credit card for parking, toll roads, petrol top-up and other miscellaneous items.

“Additionally, Stellar does have relationships and agreed methodology with some rental providers to collect breach fees.”

Franz Josef is one of the areas in the pilot programme. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

How much will this new parking programme cost?

DOC has said the pilot programme will cost an estimated $3.8 million, funded from the International Tourism Levy.

But it also said the expected revenue over the pilot period from December to June 2026 would be approximately $1.5 million.

Wilson said there is some cost outlay involved in starting up the plan.

“There are several one-off costs: some investment is going into the carparks themselves and some investment has gone into developing processes and installing the hardware required. These are all initial one-off cost that won’t be ongoing.”

She said that if paid parking continues after the trial run, the plan would quickly pay for its start-up costs.

“Just under half of the $3.8 million sum is expected to be collected during the 7-month pilot. If the recommendation from the pilot is to continue with paid parking in certain sites, we expect the initial outlay to be easily made back in another year.”

What will the money be used for?

Although some have called for the funds to be used exclusively for the areas covered by the parking fees, they’ll be used throughout the wider conservation network.

“Biodiversity and visitor network projects exist throughout the country, and DOC will use this revenue where it is most needed,” DOC said in its feedback report.

Hasn’t the Department of Conservation had a lot of funding cuts lately?

Yes. As part of the government’s cost cutting directive, DOC was asked to find savings of 6.5 percent – $31.3 million per year.

The agency has also reported a shortfall in funding to maintain its tracks and huts throughout the visitors network.

There have also been dozens of job cuts at the agency.

At the same time, the government has pledged to boost events and tourism with an investment of about $70m.

The government also plans to unleash growth on conservation land, including opening up more concessions.

The Pancake Rocks walkway at Dolomite Point, Punakaiki. Photo: Greymouth Star / Brendon McMahon

What do people think of the fees?

DOC heard from more than 150 submitters during a public engagement process, with the biggest concerns being that locals, volunteers and school groups shouldn’t have to pay for parking, and that the area eligible for local permits should be expanded to the entire West Coast.

At the moment, the area eligible for permits will be restricted to the local districts, however.

• Read more: The full DOC report on public feedback to parking fees

At Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks, café owner Grant Parrett has protestedthat the parking charges will penalise locals and are essentially an unlawful fee to enter a national park.

“I suppose $5 an hour is not very much, but any paid parking is still enough to put the casual visitors off stopping and that will hurt local businesses.

“New Zealanders don’t like paying for parking,” Parrett said.

The locals will be allowed to park free of charge for 20 minutes, however.

“I think the majority of the (public) submissions would have come from Punakaiki,” Wilson has said.

“We understand that people might feel aggrieved – no one likes paying for parking – but we’re trying to work out how to run DOC facilities that are costing us increasingly more.”

Tourism operators say the parking costs should not be a major barrier.

“While operators are mindful of cumulative visitor costs, based on comparable international-visitor park-fee proposals (e.g., US$25/day), we believe the proposed charge is unlikely to be a major barrier to most international tourists,” the tourism group TIA’s Ingram said.

“The pilot is an opportunity to test how this goes, and we look forward to working with DOC on the insights it provides and any future changes.”

Other fees are in place or coming for foreign tourists. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Aren’t foreign visitors going to be charged additional fees to visit some places, too?

Yes, but that’s likely a year or two in the future.

The government has announced it is planning to introduce new foreign visitor charges at Milford Sound, Aoraki Mount Cook, Mautohe Cathedral Cove and Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Foreign visitor fees are already common in many countries.

“I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free,” Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said, calling it “only fair” that foreign visitors make an additional payment.

The earliest visitor fees would be introduced is summer 2027, a spokesperson for Potaka’s office has previously told RNZ.

In the announcement, a fee figure of between $20 to $40 was given.

“Access charging for international visitors is approximately two years away as legislation is yet to be drafted,” Wilson said.

Parking and access fees could be combined eventually, she said.

“There will be further engagement with stakeholders on access charging during that time, including the combination of international visitor entry fees and charging for car parks in certain sites.”

Parking fees and foreign visitor fees aren’t the only charges going up for tourists.

The International Tourism Levy the government charges to most overseas tourists was raised last year from $35 to $100.

The Tourism Industry Association spoke out against that rise at the time, warning it could “create a significant barrier” and lead to fewer tourist arrivals.

Are more places going to get parking fees?

Once the trial is completed in July, DOC will make a decision as to whether or not to continue and expand paid parking to other sites.

“This is standard practice at many national parks overseas,” Wilson has said about parking fees.

“Most international visitors accept this as a necessary contribution to support the amazing nature they come to New Zealand to enjoy.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

NZTA has postponed a road closure planned for this weekend on Transmission Gully after major congestion.

It originally said lane closures would be in place this weekend both north and southbound, but had now pushed back the southbound closure by one week to Friday, November 28 until 4.30am Monday, December 1.

“We are working through the key causes of last weekend’s problems so that we can make improvements,” Mark Owen, NZTA’s regional manager for the Lower North Island/Top of the South.

“We realise the congestion on Sunday afternoon and evening caused lengthy delays and frustration for drivers. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

Owen said while the work NZTA had planned this summer would cause some disruption and delays, it wanted to minimise that as much as possible.

He said revised plans were being developed and the public would be updated soon on expected improvements to reduce congestion and delays on the State Highway 59 detour route.

“Works continue throughout the summer period, so people must prepare for delays to travel in the upcoming months. Currently, there are lane closures in place in both northbound and southbound directions, and these will be in place 24/7 until mid-February, weather permitting,” he said.

Owen said NZTA wanted to return the road to full operation as soon as it could.

“This is so it is ready for expected peak traffic volumes immediately before Christmas,” he said.

There would be no planned roadworks along Transmission Gully during the Christmas and New Year period and the road would be fully open during this time.

Why are the closures needed?

NZTA said to improve the road surface and safety for road users, drainage works were being done to permanently fix water issues on three sections of Transmission Gully where potholes had been prevalent.

It said during the week, contractors were trenching alongside lanes to install underground drainage pipework.

However, the more significant works, where underground pipework was installed across the width of the road, required road closures.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Young trappers helping preserve biodiversity, a charity diverting hundreds of tonnes of waste from landfill and farmers leading the way with freshwater mahi and protecting ecosystems are among the winners of the 2025 Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards.

Eight winners and six highly commended recipients have been recognised for their inspirational efforts across the region.

Council chair Craig Williamson said they were leading by example in improving freshwater and indigenous biodiversity, cutting carbon emissions and inspiring a new generation of young environmental leaders.

“The scope of their work is remarkable and every recipient deserves our recognition and thanks. The 14 award winners are walking the walk when it comes to protecting our environment and it’s very pleasing to see they range in age from 12 to 75, showing how every generation is doing their bit.”

The winners in the seven categories were:

Environmental action in the community

Tupu ā Nuku – for its mahi building conservation pathways for rangatahi in Taranaki.

The work is restoring landscapes and strengthening iwi-led environmental work.

Delivered by Ngāti Maru, Tupu ā Nuku creates pathways into conservation work, seeding a future workforce committed to protecting the environment.

The mahi includes native tree planting, goat control, predator monitoring, eco-sourcing and seed collection and the release of kiwi.

The judges said Tupu ā Nuku exemplified excellence in hands-on, culturally grounded conservation education and the programme would have inter-generational impacts.

Employment advisor (pastoral care) Tumu Taituarā, Jayden Waiwiri, said: “It’s a huge honour to receive the award from Taranaki Regional Council which acknowledges some of the hard mahi that we do.”

Environmental leadership in farming

Nick and Sophie Brown – for integrating environmental best practice into their farm business.

They have a TRC Comprehensive Farm Plan and understand the importance of protecting soil and water quality. They have created a pole nursery, fenced and planted a wetland and left many steep areas to revert to native scrub.

The judges hailed the Browns’ exemplary commitment to environmental stewardship over a long period of time.

“We were honoured that the council picked us. We’ve been very fortunate to work with a number of great land management officers over the last 10 years we’ve lived here. I’ve really, really enjoyed working with the council to implement some really neat stuff on the farm which has made a difference,” says Nick.

Youth environmental leader (joint winners)

Vinnie Jackson – for his work leading Inglewood Primary School’s trapping team – the ‘Assassin’s Squad’ – and his efforts to trap possums on his family’s farm.

With support from the kura, the Year 7 pupil started a student team to set traps around the school’s bush learning area. He has also been a junior ambassador at the Rotokare Scenic Reserve where he learnt a lot about the bush and how important it is to eradicate pests for our native birds.

The judges were impressed with Vinnie’s dedication to improving native habitats.

“It’s great to see him grow and do a lot for conservation and the farm. We are really proud of him,” said mum Michelle Jackson.

Jahn Voschezang – for his outstanding mahi at two schools trapping predators across more than 21 hectares of bush to protect indigenous biodiversity.

He was helping to bring back native birds, lizards and flora and had plans to extend his trapping efforts.

Mum Michelle Voschezang said: “We’re very proud that he won this award. It kind of solidifies all the work that he’s done and celebrates all his work.”

Environmental leadership in climate action

WISE Charitable Trust – for its mahi at The Junction Zero Waste Hub diverting hundreds of tonnes of waste from landfill.

The charity’s Reuse Shop has been visited by more than 140,000 people in just four years.

WISE also worked with the Waitara community and government providers to recruit people and provide long-term meaningful employment.

“This means so much to us and we’re super stoked,” said general manager Paul Scouller.

Environmental action in biodiversity

The Newton family – for their work protecting more than 160 hectares of indigenous ecosystems in Urenui.

Stephen, Helen and Ed have worked closely with the council on setting up four Key Native Ecosystems on their farm. Their work includes excluding stock, restoration planting, pest control and invasive weed control.

The judges praised the Newtons for their unwavering commitment to environmental preservation over a long period of time and the wide scope of their work, which is improving native habitats on the property.

“For me, it’s a big sense of pride. I’m grateful for the recognition for the family and my brother Stephen’s efforts,” said Ed.

Environmental action in water quality improvement

Awatuna Catchment Group – as the first Taranaki Catchment Communities group to start freshwater mahi, they provided the blueprint for all the other groups in the region-wide initiative.

The judges were impressed by the breadth of the group’s work to understand water quality and efforts to unite its community toward the cause of enhancing water quality.

They’ve also undertaken fish passage assessment training with NIWA, recognising the importance of native fauna to maintaining ecosystems and freshwater quality.

Group co-ordinator Nicola Bryant said: “Winning the award means a lot to us as a group. It celebrates the work that we’ve done and it’s really great to see that our work hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Environmental action in education

Te Ara Taiao – This collaboration between hapū, the Department of Conservation and Sustainable Taranaki works with 14 schools around the region.

The judges were impressed with the exemplary work with tamariki and rangatahi which demonstrated how meaningful partnerships between hapū, schools and conservation organisations could nurture the next generation of environmental kaitiaki.

The group’s work included kiwi releases, plantings on dunes, beach clean-ups and students had built seven shadehouses at schools, using them to grow native plants from eco-sourced seeds.

“We are humbled by this. This award reflects on all of those people that have contributed to our young people and the aspiration that we can improve the Taiao,” said Kairuruku (education co-ordinator) Jane Bowden-Dobson.

Highly commended recipients

Environmental action in education

Stratford Community Childcare Centre – for its mahi helping tamariki learn about and care for the environment.

Peter McNamara – for his environmental mahi in Stratford. Peter’s work with schools, community groups and others is changing attitudes to waste and sustainability.

Youth environmental leader

Western Institute of Technology student Joshua Judson – for his conservation work across Taranaki.

Nathan Hills – for his conservation and environmental work across Taranaki.

Environmental action in biodiversity

Murray Dixon – for his mahi trapping predators in Ahititi near Tongapōrutu.

Environmental leadership in farming

Faull Farms – for the family’s sustainable land management work and environmental responsibility.

Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards have been running since 1993 and a total of 394 groups, individuals, charities, farmers, large, small and medium businesses, schools and kindergartens, and iwi and hapū had been recognised.

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