For more than sixty years, New Zealand has justified widespread possum control, including extensive aerial 1080 operations, on two principal grounds: protecting native biodiversity and reducing the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Few would argue that protecting livestock and wildlife … Continue reading
The latest State of the Hauraki Gulf report paints a familiar picture. Declining shellfish, depleted crayfish, damaged reefs, sediment, wastewater overflows, habitat loss and increasing pressure from coastal development all feature once again. There are encouraging signs in some areas, … Continue reading
The establishment of the new Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia marine reserve network along the Otago and South Canterbury coast introduces something new to New Zealand’s marine conservation. Rather than being managed solely by the Department of Conservation, the … Continue reading
A recent controversy surrounding a children’s rockpool exploration event in Auckland should give us pause for thought. What began as a supervised educational outing ended with organisers and families facing online abuse after some observers mistakenly believed the group was … Continue reading
This article forms part of CORANZ’s Election 2026 series examining the policies that affect New Zealand’s outdoor recreation, fisheries and environment. Our role is not to tell readers how to vote, but to examine the issues and compare the policies … Continue reading
Freshwater quality remains one of New Zealand’s most important environmental challenges. Nitrogen entering rivers, lakes and groundwater has been linked to declining water quality, algal growth and increasing concern over drinking water in several communities. Collecting reliable information on where … Continue reading
Over recent months CORANZ has expressed concerns about several pieces of legislation affecting outdoor recreation, including aspects of the Fisheries Amendment Bill and the Conservation Amendment Bill. Those concerns were based on careful examination of the legislation and the potential … Continue reading
A recent Facebook post here has been widely shared alleging that the Department of Conservation deliberately misrepresented the causes of death of a collection of kiwi photographed in Northland more than a decade ago. The author claims the photograph’s history … Continue reading
Every so often, science reminds us just how much we still have to learn about the natural world. A recent study into New Zealand’s whitebait has done exactly that. Researchers discovered that when some whitebait populations become isolated from the … Continue reading
The proposed Waitaha hydro scheme poses a question that extends far beyond one river on the West Coast. It asks how New Zealand values the last of its truly wild places. Is their worth measured primarily by what they can … Continue reading
The announcement that provisions allowing the sale or exchange of conservation land are to be removed from the Conservation Amendment Bill has understandably dominated headlines. Those who lodged submissions should feel encouraged. Public participation appears to have made a genuine … Continue reading
The Government’s decision to remove the proposed provisions allowing the sale or exchange of public conservation land deserves recognition. Public submissions clearly had an impact, and Ministers should be prepared to listen when widespread concerns are expressed. That is how … Continue reading
A recent study suggests that taking a five-minute walk every hour may be enough to offset many of the effects of prolonged sitting. Researchers found improvements in mood, reduced fatigue and no measurable reduction in work productivity. The findings are … Continue reading
The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) has released survey results (here) showing extremely low levels of confidence in Police administration of the Arms Act. While the findings will not surprise many within the firearms community, they should prompt a … Continue reading
A recent international report (here) attracted attention by arguing that wealthy countries should stop pursuing economic growth and focus instead on wellbeing, equality and environmental sustainability. Unsurprisingly, the proposal has generated considerable debate. Critics describe it as unrealistic and disconnected … Continue reading
By Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ It seems I am writing quiet a few opinion pieces of late, but as we head toward an important General Election, the time seems filled with wonderful material deserving scrutiny. No less so than The … Continue reading
By Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ Two recent news stories caught my attention. One involved the illegal dumping of bitumen near Martinborough. The other concerned litter accumulating along Rotorua’s lakefront walkway. At first glance they appear to be unrelated incidents. Yet … Continue reading
A personal opinion by Andi Cockroft, Chair of CORANZ As Chair of CORANZ, I sometimes find myself reflecting on how often governments promise that the next restructure will solve the problems left behind by the last one. I was born … Continue reading
Dear Outdoor Recreation Community, I am writing to encourage your organisation and members to consider making a submission on the Conservation Amendment Bill before submissions close on 2 July 2026. Many outdoor recreation groups are concerned that aspects of the … Continue reading
or Fisheries Reform: Timing and Process The Fisheries Amendment Bill, previously expected to progress through Parliament this year, has now been delayed at the request of the Minister. The Select Committee considering the legislation has been asked to extend its … Continue reading
