Public reaction to the proposed Conservation Amendment Bill has been swift and, in some cases, strongly worded. That is not unusual where changes affect land held in public trust. Conservation land carries both practical and symbolic value, and any suggestion … Continue reading
by CORANZ researchers “Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa” (acronym CAFCA) has just published its 92 page quarterly “Watchdog” bulletin in which is contained details of recent foreign takeovers. Murray Horton of CAFCA said “the statistics tell their own story … Continue reading
or Perception versus Reality Anyone who has spent time around recreational fishing will have heard the stories. The fish that was just a little larger last time it was mentioned, the one that nearly made the record books, or the … Continue reading
By Andi Cockroft, chair, CORANZ I am 75, heading toward 76, and still working. Not because I have to in any immediate sense, but because the idea of simply stopping never quite made sense. Like many of my generation, I … Continue reading
by Tony Orman “Countries around the world are trying everything from financial incentives to law changes to try to reverse declining birth rates. None of it is working,” said a new item on Radio New Zealand 9 April, 2026. The … Continue reading
Opinion by Angus McMillan Government Treaty Minister in the 1990s Doug Graham once said that “Maori had spiritual feelings for lakes and mountains and rivers that Pakeha people neither shared nor understood.” I would be surprised if Doug Graham had much … Continue reading
by Tony Orman New Zealand’s society was established in the 19th century by European settlers and was deliberately founded on abandoning the feudal society built on privilege and a pecking order, left behind in the UK. In the new colony, … Continue reading
Recent sponsored content from the Department of Conservation highlights the role of snapper in restoring kelp forests in the Hauraki Gulf. The ecological relationship is presented clearly: larger snapper consume kina, reducing grazing pressure and allowing kelp to recover. That … Continue reading
Recent reporting from the Cook Islands highlights a developing approach to deep sea mining that differs from many other resource debates. A long-term review of scientific data points to the potential for significant and lasting impacts on deep ocean ecosystems. … Continue reading
Recent proposals to reclassify areas of Department of Conservation stewardship land have been presented as a technical adjustment within the wider management of the conservation estate. Stewardship land has long been recognised as a category that sits outside fully protected … Continue reading
Recent proposals to disestablish the Ministry for the Environment and incorporate its functions into a larger multi-purpose ministry have been presented as an administrative change rather than a substantive shift. The argument is that environmental responsibilities will remain, simply delivered … Continue reading
When Cyclone Gabrielle struck Tairāwhiti in 2023, the impacts were immediate and visible. Rivers carried vast quantities of forestry slash downstream, damaging infrastructure, burying land, and affecting communities. The scale of the event prompted a ministerial inquiry and a set … Continue reading
Sir David Attenborough is celebrating his 100th Birthday, and our congratulations on reaching the century. Yet over his lifetime, there has been a noticeable shift in the way nature documentaries are produced and presented. Earlier programmes, including many narrated by … Continue reading
CORANZ press release The Fisheries Amendment Bill promoted by Minister of Oceans and Fisheries should be dumped says the Council of Outdoor Recreation Association of NZ (CORANZ) CORANZ chairman Andi Cockroft in a submission said the tenor of the Fisheries … Continue reading
Changes are underway to conservation land management says Minister of Conservation Rama Potaka who calls it “the most significant reform of conservation legislation in nearly 40 years”. The Minister said there is a lot of out-of-date planning documents describing it as … Continue reading
by Ben Hope On the face of it, it has nothing to do with outdoor recreation. However beneath the surface, it has. The other day there was the announcement that the Broadcasting Standards Authority, (BSA), is to be banished – … Continue reading
Recent reporting on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch highlights a development that extends beyond the familiar image of floating debris. New research suggests that as plastics break down into smaller particles, they can become airborne and interact with sunlight in … Continue reading
Recent reporting indicates the Minister of Fisheries has advanced proposals to impose significant penalties for the release of on-board fishing camera footage, despite official advice that the level of fines may be excessive. The same proposals include limiting access to … Continue reading
Recent reporting on Taranaki rivers highlights a familiar pattern. Water testing shows that many popular swimming spots are frequently unsafe due to contamination, yet people continue to enter the water. Councils respond with signage, advising against swimming under certain conditions … Continue reading
by Tony Orman The woes of the economy are all to do with politics and the outdoor recreation and environment of people. Politics in the people’s outdoor recreation is simply “cause and effect.” How? Well read on and consider. First … Continue reading
