Blog Archives

Guest Post by Dave Rhodes As a child I remember Julie Andrews staring as Mary Poppins singling “Feed the birds tuppence a bag” a most endearing song that I remember well. I can still hear it echoing through my memories … Continue reading →

Research from Radio New Zealand has explored the use of recorded rodent sounds to attract rats toward traps. Speakers placed in forest areas broadcast calls continuously, encouraging movement toward specific locations rather than relying on chance encounters. The approach is … Continue reading →

Recent reporting highlights growing concern for coastal communities facing repeated flooding, erosion, and infrastructure damage. The discussion is often framed around increasing environmental pressures and the possibility of managed retreat. That may be part of the picture, but it does … Continue reading →

A recent analysis reported by Radio New Zealand highlights growing concern about microplastics accumulating in New Zealand’s coastal environments, including areas often considered pristine. The focus has been on their impact on small seabed organisms such as worms, and the … Continue reading →

The distinction between lobbying and bribery is clearly defined in law. Lobbying is a legitimate part of democratic process, allowing individuals and organisations to advocate for their interests. Bribery, by contrast, is a criminal offence under the Crimes Act 1961. … Continue reading →

Closing the Hauraki Gulf fishery does not remove pressure - it moves it. Guest Post by Dave Rhodes Concerns raised by residents of Aotea/Great Barrier Island, point to a sharp decline in kōura and increasing pressure on local fisheries. Recent … Continue reading →

A proposal to develop the Waitaha hydro scheme on the West Coast has received draft approval through the fast-track process, prompting concern from recreation and environmental groups. The project would divert water from a remote river gorge to generate 23 … Continue reading →

Reports from Radio New Zealand describe a confronting scene at Pukepuke Lagoon in Manawatū, where thousands of eels and other aquatic life were found dead or dying on an exposed lakebed. The lagoon has been known to recede during dry … Continue reading →

A recent media report summarising the Our Freshwater 2026 findings presents a familiar picture. Some indicators are improving, others are worsening, and overall trends remain mixed. The immediate reaction has been predictable, with terms such as “sobering” and “bleak” used … Continue reading →

Most people notice it first in simple ways. Fewer butterflies in the garden. Fewer insects striking the windscreen after a long drive. These are not measured observations, but they are widely shared. They point to something changing, even if the … Continue reading →

Participation in community life has not simply declined in isolated areas; it has shifted across a wide range of everyday behaviours. Lower voter turnout, reduced volunteering, and declining involvement in clubs sit alongside less formal signs: young people disengaging from … Continue reading →

Guest Post by Dave Rhodes Participation in organised sport narrows as young people move through their teenage years, a pattern that is widely recognised but often treated as a problem to be solved within sport itself. As competition increases and … Continue reading →

Guest Post by Dave Rhodes The discussion around youth sport often focuses on participation and retention, yet far less attention is given to what follows when young people leave organised structures. As participation narrows through the teenage years, many disengage … Continue reading →

Guest Post by Dave Rhodes Participation in organised sport among young people is strong through primary school years, yet the drop-off during adolescence is well established. Recent initiatives, including corporate-backed programmes and community festivals, highlight a growing effort to address … Continue reading →

Most backcountry huts managed by Department of Conservation rely on a simple system: rainwater collected from the roof and stored in tanks. It is a practical solution, widely used, low cost, and generally assumed to be safe. For generations of … Continue reading →

A post from 2017, written for Fish and Game Magazine in 2017. It was refused publication. The debate around Predator Free New Zealand and the use of 1080 remains one of the most contested areas of environmental policy. Strong views … Continue reading →

The construction of a community-funded seawall at Port Waikato is being presented as a local success story. Residents, facing ongoing coastal erosion and limited institutional support, organised, funded, and built a structure to protect their homes and maintain access. The … Continue reading →

The Waikato River is increasingly being described through symptoms: toxic algal blooms, invasive clams, declining water quality, and community concern. The latest reporting adds a further layer, pointing to geothermal inputs and biological changes occurring at the same time. Each … Continue reading →

A report noting declining vegetable consumption might seem distant from outdoor recreation. On the surface it is about diet, cost, and changing habits. Look more closely and it reflects something broader: a gradual move away from the basic skills that … Continue reading →

Christchurch’s wastewater situation presents a clear example of what happens when infrastructure, regulation, and decision-making fall out of alignment. Faced with a failing treatment system and ongoing public complaints, one proposed response was to discharge tens of millions of litres … Continue reading →