It was a heart-in-mouth day for a lot of us at DOC.

Nearly 700 km from mainland New Zealand on the remote Campbell Island in the subantarctic, our beloved rodent detector dog Flint was waiting. Alone.

Flint had been left behind. At the bottom of the world. Read the full story.

Image: Lee Barry | DOC

Insect expert Eric Edwards talks to Nic Toki about ecosystems, climate change and cataloguing critters.

He also shares his adventures catching true bugs in Micronesia and navigating poo patches (!) in the subantarctic islands.

Image: DOC

Excitement as Pakihi Track reopens

The classic, historic track is part of the Motu Trails National Cycleway. It travels 20 km through thick forest, south of Ōpōtiki in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

“We’re rapt to have the Pakihi open again. A whole lot of people have been keenly waiting for this." Jade, Operations Manager.

Image: Brad Bluett | DOC

Partial closure of Paparoa Track to continue

Extreme weather on the West Coast has continued to delay efforts to open the middle section of the Paparoa Track. As a result, we've extended the partial track closure from 22 December 2019 through to 29 February 2020.

It's anticipated the middle section of track will open 1 March 2020.

Image: ©

Rising rain wrecks routes

1000 mm of sustained rainfall over 8 days collapsed the glacier moraine at Husky Flat, cutting off access to Ball Hut and Ball Pass route from the Tasman valley.

The route up the Hooker valley is also severely damaged by the heavy rains.

Image: DOC

How to safely interact with seals, dolphins and whales

Almost half of the world’s cetaceans - whales, porpoises and dolphins - have been reported in our waters.

Knowing what you can and can’t do when interacting with our marine mammals could be the difference between harming protected wildlife (or yourself) or enjoying Aotearoa for our precious environment.

Image: Sabine Bernert | © 

Kiwi kids are asking you to look after our home

Tiaki means to care for people and place. The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand for now, and for future generations.

As kaitiaki and guardians of this land, kiwi kids are asking us, both locals and visitors, to all make that promise.

Celebrating a milestone for kids in nature

Seven-year old Anya was the lucky 50,000th Toyota Kiwi Guardians medal winner with her visit to Auckland Botanic Gardens in October.

Find out how you to can earn a Toyota Kiwi Guardians medal.

Image: DOC

Gordon Park gets a helping hand

Students from Whanganui Collegiate recently tackled the invasive veldt grass at Gordon Park Scenic Reserve alongside DOC staff and volunteers.

If you want to get involved contact the Whanganui office.

Image: Jaycee Tipene-Thomas | DOC

Best shorebird/seabird meme

We recently ran a competition on our Facebook page asking people to make their own meme using a collection of shorebird/ seabird images. 

Browse the comments for a laugh and look out for our shorebirds nesting on beaches and shores near you this summer.

Image: Finlay Cox

Life rafts to protect threatened black-billed gulls

A colony of 300 critically endangered black-billed gulls/tarāpuka has been nesting on the site of the former PWC building in Christchurch. But many gulls have chosen to build nests on narrow beams surrounded by water.

We're hoping our new floating platforms will help keep chicks from drowning this season.

Image: DOC

Flood of support for Top of the South catchment

The Minister of Conservation has announced funding to restore the freshwater quality and mauri (lifeforce) of at-risk Te Hoiere/Pelorus catchment.

The catchment is dominated by native beech forest and provides a home for many indigenous animals. 

Image: DOC

Fiordland Bat Diaries: The Ettrick Burn

Introducing our new blog series the Fiordland Bat Diaries.

The Murchison Mountains have more hidden gems than just our lovely takahē. Local rangers undertake monitoring in order to protect and learn more about New Zealand's two native bat species.

Image: Warren Simpson DOC

Ruahine whio to benefit from latest DOC Community Fund

The Ruahine boasts the southernmost wild populations of whio remaining in the North Island.

Ruahine Whio Protectors Trust will use the grant to continue their predator control work and consolidate trapping lines.

Image: Anthony Behrens | ©

Taranaki truck driver saves kiwi chick

Alan had been driving along the remote Waitaanga Road in North Taranaki when by chance he happened to be in the right spot at the right moment. A stoat was attacking a kiwi.

Alan was able to save the kiwi and it's now recovering at Wildbase Hospital.

Image: DOC

Plight of northern royal/toroa albatross goes global

Season 5 of Royal Cam at Taiaroa/ Pukekura Head has launched with a new camera to live stream albatross activity. The camera now features panning and night vision technology.

This is thanks to a new partnership with New York's Cornell University which will increase annual viewers by 20 million.

Image: DOC

Fiordland takahē homeland full – no vacancies

It's exciting to announce that a record 41 takahē are being released into their Murchison Mountains homeland in Fiordland this summer.

The new arrivals will take the population in this Special Takahē Area to being full, so the no vacancy sign is going up.

Image: Di Mackey | DOC

Double celebration for fairy tern/tara iti

One of New Zealand’s rarest birds, the New Zealand fairy tern/tara iti has been boosted by two chicks successfully hatching last week – one at Pakiri, North of Auckland and the other at Mangawhai, near Whangarei.

Image: Malcolm Pullman | ©