Department of Conservation

Forest ice cream: what deer and goats eat first

Department of Conservation — 27/05/2026 — 5 Comments

Some forests feel full of life; others seem bare. The difference often comes down to selective browsing by introduced deer and goats.

In Always Be Naturing, Hunting, Hunting conservation, deer, goat control, hunting

Close-up photograph of a 50-60mm giant kōkopu with a black background.

Smile for the camera! Using new tech to identify baby native fish

Department of Conservation — 22/05/2026 — 1 Comment

May 23rd is World Fish Migration Day – a worldwide celebration of free-flowing rivers and the life they support. We have some very special fish here in Aotearoa, and this year we’re literally shining a spotlight on five species of galaxiid that move between freshwater and the sea during their lives.

In Freshwater banded kōkopu, Galaxias argenteus, Galaxias brevipinnis, Galaxias fasciatus, Galaxias maculatus, Galaxias postvectis, galaxiid, giant kōkopu, kōaro, shortjaw kōkopu, whitebait, World FIsh Migration Day, īnanga

Your guide to booking a Great Walk (or hut or campsite)

Department of Conservation — 10/05/2026 — 3 Comments

Don’t be caught unawares, left gutted and disappointed because you missed out. Here’s everything you need to know about how to book for the Great Walks season.