Environment

Wild pigs push farm damage and TB fears

Pests are providing issues for farmers on both sides of Lake Taupō. Disease eradication agency Ospri has been working to control and eradicate bovine tuberculosis... Read More

What to watch in the night sky in 2026

What will we see in the southern sky in 2026? A total eclipse of the moon (at a convenient time), a blue moon and a supermoon, the two brightest planets... Read More

Keeping ants, flies and mozzies out of your home

Ants in your pantry? Flies in your living room? Creepy crawlies in your couch? A New Zealand summer brings (sometimes) great weather but it can also come... Read More

Kākāpō breeding season officially underway

The first kākāpō breeding season in four years is officially underway, the Department of Conservation and Ngāi Tahu announced this week. Remote monitoring... Read More

Boat checks spark concerns for Lake Tarawera

Stricter controls on out-of-town boaties on Lake Ōkāreka has prompted concern from Fish & Game New Zealand over what it might mean for fishing hotspot Lake... Read More

Scientists probe venomous spider ‘hotspots’

Researchers are investigating 'hotspots” of a venomous spider throughout the country this summer. The invasive noble false widow spider was first spotted... Read More

Lifeguards warn as crowds surge to beaches

Eastern region surf lifeguards are preparing for a busy New Year's Day, with easing swell and improving winds expected to draw large crowds to some of the region's... Read More

Over 2000 wallabies controlled across BOP

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council killed or contained more than 2000 wallabies as part of its pest control programme in 2024/25. Wallabies were introduced... Read More

Community New Year's Eve celebrations cancelled

Five community events planned for New Year's Eve in Tauranga have been cancelled due to 'adverse weather conditions”. Tauranga City Council made the... Read More

Human heat circle saves lost Coromandel tramper

An 80-year-old man who became lost while hiking was saved overnight after a mum and her two teenage children formed a human heat circle to keep him alive. Area... Read More

Don’t let your holidays go up in flames

With many parts of the country experiencing hot and windy conditions, Fire and Emergency New Zealand has enforced restrictions on outdoor fires in several districts,... Read More

Simple steps to stay safe on holiday and at home

A Kiwi summer can go wrong in so many ways. An undercooked turkey. A structurally-unsound pavlova. Inconsistently-applied sunscreen on a scorching day. But... Read More