Navigation for News Categories
Environment
Featured Environment stories
Our Changing World: 40 years of Project Tongariro
Four decades after being established as a living memorial in response to a tragedy, this community conservation group is focused on the future.
-
Southland lagoon at risk of ecological tipping point, warns DOC
29 Jul 2025An ecologically significant Southland lagoon that has been plagued by algal blooms could be at a tipping point.
-
'Significant risk' of missing 2050 climate target, government making it worse
25 Jul 2025The government's actions have made it more likely the country won't meet its goals, a major report has found.
-
Toxic algae bloom lingers off Australia, killing marine life
22 Jul 2025The algae, which damages the gills of fish and suffocates them, stretched across 4400 square kilometres when it was first spotted in mid-March.
Environment headlines with summaries.
-
Lanternfish: Small fish, big impact
22 Jul 2025Researchers are investigating whether tiny lanternfish play an outsized role in controlling fish life cycles and carbon storage in the ocean.
-
Flood victims will not be on their own, says chair of contentious report
Leader of expert panel clarifies recommendations on how the government should adapt to climate change, saying there should always be a social safety net. Audio
-
Northland orca expert: Reject Waipiro Bay marina fast-tracking
17 Jul 2025Orca researcher Dr Ingrid Visser has called on Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop to reject the proposed marina's fast-tracking application.
-
Invasive worm species found under Bluff wharf
16 Jul 2025An invasive species of worm has been found in Bluff Harbour, and the Southland Regional Council is trying to determine if it has spread.
-
More city cyclists get on their bikes - but there is untapped demand for more
14 Jul 2025There is untapped demand from those who do not have bikes, or the confidence to ride them, researchers and council staff say.
-
'Hippo Birthday': Thailand's Moo Deng celebrates 1st birthday
10 Jul 2025She's no longer the cute animal that garnered internet fame, but diehard fans still turned up.
-
Outcry over 'morally bankrupt' call to end government flood buyouts
10 Jul 2025Phasing out government assistance for storms and floods would be leaving homeowners 'on their own', an expert says. Audio
-
'Unprecedented' changes around Antarctic have implications for NZ
9 Jul 2025The shift could accelerate climate change for the whole planet. Audio
-
Our Changing World: Tauranga’s living sea wall
8 Jul 2025Manmade rock pools are creating homes for coastal critters along the Tauranga waterfront.
-
Government was told it would have to quit fossil fuel group if new exploration started
7 Jul 2025An international coalition for phasing out fossil fuels says it told the government after the election it would have to quit the group if it re-started looking for new oil and gas, contradicting what…
-
Oyster farmers' 7-year battle with Watercare
2 Jul 2025A group of oyster farmers in the north of Auckland have reached their breaking point over sewage overflow and want the government to intervene. Audio
-
Looking after New Zealand's rarest freshwater fish
1 Jul 2025A tiny native fish with the nickname 'Jaws' is under threat from introduced trout.
-
NZ pulls out of global coalition for phasing out fossil fuels
25 Jun 2025The move follows the Budget announcement of $200 million to support new drilling for fossil fuel fields.
-
How to get the best payoff from solar panels
24 Jun 2025Solar now stacks up financially in all three of our biggest cities - but there are exceptions, according to a new study. Audio
-
A deadly bird flu strain is coming. Are we ready?
17 Jun 2025New Zealand is one the last places in the world where H5N1 has not yet been detected.
-
Bodies of four weasels found inside Zealandia eco-sanctuary
12 Jun 2025Unwanted visitors have made their way into Wellington sanctuary.
-
Emperor penguin populations declining faster than expected
11 Jun 2025Previous projections showed the species would be near extinction by the end of the century. It's now much worse.
-
Conservation trust prepares to dramatically scale back work
10 Jun 2025QEII National Trust relies largely on government funding, and its budget is set to shrink.
-
Booming space industry could hurt ozone layer's recovery
10 Jun 2025The rapidly growing number of rocket launches could slow the recovery of the ozone layer, a NZ-led study shows.
-
What is the High Seas Treaty to protect world oceans?
10 Jun 2025While many countries have agreed to take steps to protect the vast, ungoverned swathes of the world's oceans, they have yet to see their High Seas Treaty go into effect.
-
Fuel tank left open caused large diesel spill at Christchurch prison
9 Jun 2025About 14,000 litres of diesel has leached into the ground at Christchurch Men's Prison, after the hatch of a fuel tank was left open.
-
Solving green sea turtle mysteries
10 Jun 2025Scientists are hoping to unravel the secrets of the green sea turtles that spend their formative years along Aotearoa's shores.
-
Fibreboard manufacturer fined $12k for large wastewater spill
4 Jun 2025The company responsible for a wastewater spill that killed thousands of fish in a North Canterbury creek has been convicted and fined $12,000.
-
New Zealand’s air quality improving, but winter smoke still an issue
3 Jun 2025The overall improvement in air quality was thanks to individuals making good decisions about how they heated their homes or travelled around their cities.
