Another summer of disrupted roads, flooded valleys and closed tracks has prompted renewed discussion about how New Zealand should respond to increasingly volatile weather patterns. The RNZ analysis this week distilled several national-level lessons. For outdoor recreationists, the lesson is … Continue reading
By Andi Cockroft From time to time we hear the comment that CORANZ is “using AI a fair bit” these days. That’s true. Let’s talk about it. We use email.We use word processors.We use search engines.We use digital cameras instead … Continue reading
Bottom trawling is a commercial fishing method that involves towing weighted nets along the seafloor to catch species that live close to the bottom, such as hoki, orange roughy, and scampi. It has been used in New Zealand waters for … Continue reading
2026 is described in some traditions as the Year of the Fire Horse - associated with energy, momentum, and forward movement. For outdoor recreation, optimism need not mean bigger, faster, or further. It can mean something quieter: renewed confidence in … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
