Monthly Archives: February 2026

Stormy Weather Alert – Be Prepared, Be Safe

Heavy rain warnings and adverse weather are affecting much of the North Island, with a State of Emergency declared for Ōtorohanga due to flooding and slips. Rain and gusty winds are forecast for Wellington and surrounding regions over the coming … Continue reading

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Who Controls the Tap - and Who Pays for the Flow?

CORANZ commentaryBy Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Federated Farmers this week called on the Government to rule out any form of “water tax” in the proposed RMA replacement legislation. Their concern centres on wording in the Natural Environment Bill that would … Continue reading

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Framing Possums as a Rapacious Consumer of Forests

Opinion by Jack Tuhawaiki       In 1919 the Auckland Acclimatisation Society wrote in its annual report, “We shall be doing a great service to the country in stocking these large areas with this valuable and harmless animal.”Today that … Continue reading

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Valentine’s Day - Love Your Place

CORANZ seasonal post Valentine’s Day doesn’t need roses, restaurants, or ribbons. Sometimes the best way to celebrate is simply to step outside - and share a place you care about. Here are a few simple, low-impact ways to show a … Continue reading

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When Local Initiative Works

Maitai Bay Shows What Stewardship Can Achieve CORANZ featureBy Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Eight years ago, local hapū at Maitai Bay on the Karikari Peninsula declared a rāhui - an unofficial no-take fishing ban grounded in tikanga and community responsibility. … Continue reading

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NZ Slides Down in Integrity Rankings

New Zealand’s slide down the global corruption rankings has become so predictable it barely causes a stir says political commentator Dr Bryce Edwards, Director of the Democracy Project. Following are some extract “New Zealand has dropped again: from 83 to … Continue reading

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We’ve Seen This Before: Politicising Environmental Decisions

This Should Alarm Anyone Who Cares About Rivers CORANZ commentaryBy Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Recent discussion from NZ First about giving ministers the final say on fast-track project approvals should give anyone with a memory of Canterbury pause. Not because … Continue reading

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Microplastics: From Detection to Doubt

It’s Important for Our Waters CORANZ commentaryBy Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Over the past decade, microplastics have shifted from an abstract environmental concern to something that is now routinely detected in water, sediment, and marine life. Scientific papers increasingly report … Continue reading

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Submissions Open: The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill Matter to the Outdoors

Two major pieces of legislation are now before Parliament: the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill. Together, they are intended to replace the Resource Management Act and fundamentally reshape how land, water, access, and environmental decisions are made in … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Hollows Boys

Book Review “The Hollows Boys” by Peta Carey, published by Potton and Burton. Price $39.99. Reviewed by Tony Orman     “The Hollows Boys” is the story of the commercial venison industry in Fiordland, infamously known as “The Deer Wars” … Continue reading

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A Quiet Recovery on a Country Road

Guest Post by Dave Rhodes I live in a remote rural area. Narrow country lanes, no streetlights, no traffic to speak of. The nearest village is about eight kilometres away and most nights, driving home means having the road almost … Continue reading

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Firearms Amendment Bill

Outdoor Recreation Voices Matter CORANZ commentalryBy Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Submissions are now open on the Government’s Firearms Amendment Bill. Much of the public discussion so far has focused on firearms themselves - licensing, controls, and compliance. That is understandable. … Continue reading

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When Warnings Are Ignored, Rivers Pay the Price

CORANZ commentaryBy Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Front-page coverage in The Press of the collapse of native fish in the Rakaia River marks a moment many in the freshwater community have waited a long time to see. It is overdue recognition … Continue reading

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WHAT A WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND BULLETS

 Opinion by Garrick Batten Is a goat worth more dead than alive? The Department of Conservation (DoC), the NZ Deerstalkers Association, Hunting and Fishing NZ and the Firearm Safety Authority have recently bragged about killing 13,000 goats during the National Wild Goat … Continue reading

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Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

The Cape Kidnappers gannet colony sits on the cliffs at the end of Cape Kidnappers, south-east of Napier. The colony is one of the largest and most accessible mainland gannet colonies in the world, perched above a rugged, erosion-shaped coastline. … Continue reading

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Recreational Boating (Getting Started)

Recreational boating in New Zealand covers a wide range of everyday use of small boats on coastal and inland waters - from short trips in sheltered harbours to quiet days on lakes and rivers. It includes both powered boats and … Continue reading

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The Clay Cliffs (Omarama)

The Clay Cliffs lie just outside Omarama, at the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin. They sit in a dry, open landscape, shaped by erosion rather than vegetation, and feel markedly different from the surrounding high-country valleys. This is not … Continue reading

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Risk by Removal: When Protection Creates Withdrawal

CORANZ commentary Proposals to impose an instant halt on under-16s’ access to social media are usually framed as common sense. Identify harm, remove exposure, problem solved. It’s a familiar pattern. We see it in outdoor policy all the time: risk … Continue reading

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Inspired by LegaSea

An Election-Year Question for Outdoor New Zealand Guest Post by Dave Rhodes One of the more disciplined and effective pieces of advocacy circulating this election year comes from LegaSea (see https://legasea.co.nz/). Whether or not one agrees with every position they … Continue reading

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Swimming, Survival, and the Skills We No Longer Assume

A recent Stuff article here highlights a campaign to teach 10,000 children safe swimming and water-survival skills over summer. It’s a positive story. Few would argue against the value of children learning how to float, cope with cold water, or … Continue reading

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