Ko tēnei te wiki o te reo Māori. It’s Māori Language Week and to celebrate we thought we’d profile some beautiful Māori words from nature and share with you their meanings.
While we often hear scientific names used for species in conservation, their indigenous names can invoke, inspire and reveal some of the many wonders of nature in Aotearoa…
Werewere-kōkako (meaning: wattles of the kōkako)
The name for this beautiful, blue native mushroom takes its name from the wattles of our stunning kōkako bird. ‘Werewere’ can mean hanging or suspended, but in this case it’s the name for the wattles of a bird.
In Māori mythology Punga was the god and ancestor of all ugly things. Our most famous insect, the giant wētā, is named after the god himself – wētāpunga. ‘Te aitanga a Punga’ meaning the progeny of Punga refers to a wide range of sea and land creatures including lizards and octopuses.
Pua o te Rēinga (meaning: flower of the underworld)
Pua o te Rēinga, meaning flower of the underworld, is our only fully parasitic flowering plant. It parasitises the roots of trees and remains underground until it flowers, when its pushes through to the forest floor and is naturally pollinated by pekapeka/short-tailed bats.
Coral polyps are tiny little animals that are related to anemones and jellyfish. They secrete calcium carbonate that builds up rock-hard external skeletons but leave small holes where the polyps live – hence the Māori name toka pokapoka.
The silvereye was first recorded in New Zealand in 1832 and since there is no evidence that it was artificially introduced, it is classified as a native species. Its late arrival has earned it the Māori name, tauhou, means ‘stranger’ or more literally ‘new arrival’.
Hura te ao geckos have black eyes, yellow-orange lips, and fine white spots. They are found in two mountain ranges in North Otago. Hura te ao means ‘to reveal the light’ but can also mean the break of dawn. Their Māori name is inspired by their colour pattern, the colour around the mouth resembling light appearing at sunrise.
New Zealand’s tallest moss, Dawsonia superba can grow up to 60 centimetres, reaching heights normally reserved for vascular plants. It is the tallest self supporting moss in the world. The Māori name pāhau-kākāpō meaning ‘beard of the kākāpō’ is a reference to the spiky whiskers of our largest native parrot.
The word kōtare sometimes referred to the elevated platform in a pā, used to watch for enemies. This is perfect for the kōtare which finds the perfect lookout spot, perches motionless then attacks its prey from out of nowhere.
Please note thatte reo Māori is a diverse language and there are many names and stories attributed to nature. These are just some of the names and meanings that are used.
What the next 20 years of predator free islands hold.
In this two-part series, we’re celebrating 20 years of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest predator free project to-date. Looking to the future, we explore what the next 20 years of restoring New Zealand’s wild and precious islands may hold. Learn how artificial intelligence, the history of phones, and feral pigs all connect.
Written by Janel Hull.
20 years ago, DOC declared the seemingly impossible operation to make Campbell Island predator free a resounding success.
The techniques that DOC staff on Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku pioneered helped propel the world into exponentially scaling up eradications of bigger and bigger islands. DOC’s Predator Free 2050 Senior Manager, Brent Beaven, shares how Campbell Island changed the game. “Campbell Island helped unlock a step change in what we thought was possible.”
DOC Predator Free 2050 Senior Manager, Brent Beaven, translocating a rare native tīeke (South Island saddleback) | Photo: Peta Carey
Now, there have been over 1,000 island eradications in the world. And New Zealand is responsible for the lion’s share.
Thanks to these predator free breakthroughs, islands across the world are covered in screeching penguins, soaring albatross, and chubby sea lions. We were able to save precious native plants and animals from the brink of extinction.
But momentum in creating larger predator free islands has unfortunately waned. Brent notes, “The island eradication tools and techniques we use now have allowed us to achieve some incredible things. But, to scale up to larger and more island eradications, we need innovation.”
Technology and techniques haven’t changed much since the 2001 Campbell Island operation. Island eradications in 2023 use similar GPS, helicopters, and techniques. Which is surprising considering that in 2001 the first ipod was released, we had just survived Y2K, and fax machines and landlines reigned supreme. These predator eradication techniques are tried and true and get the job done. But the tools aren’t effective and efficient for eradicating predators from very large islands or the mainland of Aotearoa.
To tackle restoring larger islands and the mainland, we need new tools, techniques, and technology. We need investment to shift from reliable landlines to transformative smart phones.
Predator Free 2050 has focused government investment into this innovation. Since the goal was announced in 2016, programmes like DOC’s ‘Tools to Market‘ and Predator Free 2050 Ltd.’s ‘Products to Projects’ have invested in possible game changers like biodegradable aerial rat traps, AI cameras and image recognition, smart detection devices, pest-specific toxins, and research to map predator genomes to understand their unique weaknesses and biology. In just the first five years of Predator Free 2050, government has invested $43 million into tools, research, and software for predator eradication.
Biodegradable aerial rat traps | Photo: GoodnatureZero Invasive Predators (ZIP) innovation and operations team talk through a prototype | Photo: Robyn Janes
It’s unlikely research will uncover just one “silver bullet” for eradicating introduced predators. But with the help of investment and new tools and technology, Aotearoa could accelerate efforts to restoring precious islands and our mainland.
Predator Free 2050 has also helped launch DOC’s National Eradication Team (NET). This team is working on a strategy for eradicating predators from all of New Zealand’s uninhabited off-shore islands. They’re leaders in predator eradication – spearheading strategy, testing new techniques, and advising on island eradication projects both in Aotearoa and around the world.
Some members of the National Eradication Team | Photo: Finlay Cox
DOC’s eradication experts have already achieved great things for people and wildlife. In 2018, a DOC team led the charge to successfully eradicate mice from Antipodes island, protecting wildlife like wandering albatross.
They’re also sharing their knowledge and expertise abroad. In 2023, they led a rat eradication on Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands with our neighbours in the Pacific who were struggling with rats destroying food and threatening their community’s health.
National Eradication Team member supporting Palmerston Atoll community members with trail cameras and rat surveys | Photo: Em Oyston
With the leadership of DOC and investment in tools and techniques, Aotearoa is taking strides to accelerate island conservation.
And these experts have their eyes set on the next big island restoration – Maukahuka Auckland Island.
Maukahuka/Auckland Island is a stronghold of remarkable plants and animals. As a subantarctic nature reserve and World Heritage site, it is home to some of the world’s rarest animals like the Gibson’s albatross, southern right-whales, New Zealand sea lions and hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin).
The island supports over 500 native plants and animals with more than 100 found nowhere else in the world. The wild landscape has blushing rātā forests and windswept clusters of bright megaherbs. Maukahuka is of great cultural and spiritual significance to Ngāi Tahu, with a long history of Polynesian expeditions to the islands to gather food and settle.
Megaherb carpets on neighbouring predator free Enderby Island | Photo: James WareHoiho/yellow-eyed penguins | Photo: Rachael Sagar
Sadly, over the last 200 years, populations of feral pigs, feral cats, and mice have inflicted severe harm. Now, of the 39 native bird species that were once on the island, 28 are either gone or remain in very small numbers. Large swaths of rātā forests have disturbed soils and stunted understories. Megaherbs are dwindling. Without action, plants and animals will continue to disappear.
Feral pigs in a white-capped albatross colony on Auckland Island | Photo: Paul Sagar
At about four times the size of Campbell Island, achieving a predator free Auckland Island would be a massive undertaking. It would be New Zealand’s largest predator free island and the final step to finally restore all of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands.
In 2021, the National Eradication Team spent three years investigating whether it was possible to eradicate pigs, mice and feral cats from Auckland Island. They concluded that making Auckland Island predator free would be achievable, worthwhile, and sustainable in the long run.
But first, the project would need about $9.75 million per year over 8 years to tackle the challenge. Innovation in image processing and targeted baits has steadily reduced the time and cost. But it would still require unprecedented support and investment.
Looking to the future, New Zealand could make even bigger strides in conservation on islands like Auckland Island. Brent reflects, “All of our progress on previous islands helped build the confidence to launch Predator Free 2050. We’re now seriously eyeing up another step change in possibility with Maukahuka Auckland Island.”
Predator Free 2050 is helping tackle the challenge of innovating new tools and technology, spearheading a strategy for restoring all islands, and growing new levels of community support and investment for eradicating pests.
The next 20 years could be promising for predator free islands. But it’ll be a challenge. Brent notes, “We’ll need to innovate, test our limits and be prepared to take a bit of risk as we step into the unknown.”
We’re celebrating 20 years of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest predator free project to-date. Hear from a former DOC ranger who experienced the world first rat eradication as he shares the story of mysterious footprints, an explosion of wētā, and why making subantarctic islands predator-free is so important.
Written by Janel Hull.
Campbell Island, Motu Ihupuku is a thriving wildlife stronghold and a testament to Aotearoa New Zealand’s world-leadership in conservation. But it’s tucked away in a surprising location, 700 kilometres south of Aotearoa New Zealand’s South Island in the subantarctic islands.
This island is a World Heritage Site and nature reserve that is renowned for the overwhelming volume of rare plants and animals it supports. The island is home to six species of albatross – including one that lives nowhere else in the world.
The northern cliffs are blanketed in densely packed nests of Campbell Island albatross and thick with weaving swarms of seabirds. It’s a stunning sight to see… just try not to imagine the strong smell.
Fields of lilac and sunshine megaherbs (giant wildflowers) stretch in an endless carpet across the upper parts of the island, reaching up to the knees and hips of visitors. The fields are interrupted with dots of white – nests of southern royal albatross/toroa – and brown – lounging New Zealand sea lions/pakake. Sometimes, the sea lions let off an unsettling nearby roar from somewhere in the tall grass.
But 20 years ago, Campbell Island was a completely different story. For nearly 200 years, introduced rats had run rampant on the island. These predators decimated megaherbs, birds, and nests in their wake. Campbell Island had achieved another world first for wildlife volume. But this time, the island had the highest density of Norway rats in the world.
This all changed in 2001 when DOC began a world-first operation to eradicate rats from the 11,300-hectare Campbell Island. Former DOC Ranger Lindsay Wilson recalls “when we were doing Campbell, there was a huge amount of scepticism that it would work. It was the largest rat eradication in the world.”
Former DOC ranger Lindsay Wilson on Campbell Island | Photo: Supplied
The team boldly aimed to eradicate rats from an island about six times bigger than any island attempted before. This was attempting “the impossible”.
DOC sent a team of 19 including eradication experts, biologists, helicopter pilots, a medic, and a cook to live on the island for 3 months.
Lindsay was a key part of the team. To save native species from extinction, they were tasked with meticulously distributing rat toxin across every corner of the island. They used helicopters and recently developed GPS technology to map the precise spread of bait.
A typical day for Lindsay involved being flown out to a helicopter loading site at sunrise, filling buckets with toxin, and reloading until sunset. (Although sometimes a typical day involved waiting for the wind to stop blowing). In the evenings, the crew would head back to their hut and pour over GPS tracks to determine paths for the next day. Their long hours were driven by a single purpose – bring thriving wildlife back to the island.
All work was planned around the wet, windy, and unpredictable weather of the subantarctic islands. Operations require fine and calm weather for flying and to ensure bait is in tip top shape. A typical day was drizzly, blustering with 30-40 knot winds, and was about 5 degrees Celsius with heavy grey clouds. In fact, rain falls on Campbell Island an average of 325 days per year!
Lindsay chuckles, “the weather was so bad, it was kind of cool. You know? I remember the first time after 10 days the sun came out. Suddenly it’s like everything went from black and white to colour.”
With a combination of surprisingly dry weather and the team’s hard work, the operation finished in just 6 weeks.
Two years later, Lindsay and the team returned to the island to monitor whether the world-first eradication was successful. The team landed with bated breath.
“Right after we landed on the first night, we went outside and shone the torch around and here’s all these wētā under the bushes that we hadn’t seen previously. It was really pronounced – there were wētā everywhere.”
For two months, the team hiked up and down the steep island checking lines of traps to look for signs of any remaining rats. Instead, they found recovering megaherbs, an explosion of the songbird pipits, and a mysterious footprint.
“The icing on the cake was one of the team found small footprints in the mud at Six Foot Lake.” They thought it could be the endemic subantarctic snipe, previously wiped out from the island.
“We could hardly believe it really. They didn’t have a camera with them, and we didn’t have cell phones in those days. They did a very careful sketch and got measurements of the footprints.” Once they returned to the hut, they radioed the snipe expert and confirmed their finding.
Drawing of subantarctic snipe footprints by bird expert Colin MiskellyA subantarctic snipe chick found by researchers on Campbell Island in 2004 | Photo: Colin Miskelly
The snipe were back home, at last. These hearty birds had managed to reintroduce themselves from a tiny rock stack near the island.
Lindsay remembers that the team had dreamed of one-day returning snipe to Campbell Island. “We thought we’d have to go and physically capture snipe, captive rear them, and maybe in 10-20 years we could reintroduce them. But instead, within two years, they were back.”
An adult subantarctic snipe on Campbell Island | Photo: Brent Beaven
Campbell Island was officially declared free of rats in May 2003, achieving the world’s largest rat eradication at the time and our country’s largest island eradication to date.
But New Zealand’s legacy of successful eradications doesn’t end there. From the 1980s to the 2010s, we were able to increase the size of island eradications. They went from 200 hectares, to 10,000 hectares, to over 100,000 hectares. “In just 30 years, the rate of possibility hugely increased”.
The techniques that DOC staff on Campbell Island pioneered helped propel the world into exponentially scaling up island eradications of bigger and bigger islands. Now, there have been over 110+ successful island eradications in New Zealand and around 1,000 successful eradications in the world. And New Zealand is responsible for the lion’s share.
Islands across the world are covered in screeching penguins, soaring albatross, and chubby sea lions thanks to predator free action.
Read part two to learn what’s to come for the next 20 years of island restoration. We explore futuristic technology, how New Zealand takes Predator Free 2050 knowledge around the world, and what it’ll take to make New Zealand’s final subantarctic island predator free.
Hiking, camping and hunting with your dog on conservation land.
Image: DOC
If you’re planning on camping, tramping or hunting on conservation land with your best four-legged friend this summer, here’s a quick guide to what you need to know before you go.
PrepareProtectEnjoy!
Prepare
Heading to the hills with your hound can be so much fun, but a successful trip will need a bit of planning and preparation.
Depending on what you’re up to or where you’re headed, your pup might need a permit to be there, or only allowed to be there on lead, or may not be allowed there at all*, so it’s vital you check before you head out: Where you can take your dog and access rules: Dog access (doc.govt.nz)
*You may be issued an infringement fine or prosecuted if you take your dogs into no access areas, controlled areas without a permit, or breach the conditions of your permit.
Visit the Department of Conservation website to find:
Image: DOC
You can also search on the webpages for individual DOC walking tracks and campsites to see what the specific access rules are for the site. For example:
One thing to be aware of is that dogs are not allowed inside DOC huts, so if you’re out on an overnighter, make sure you have a plan to keep your furry friend comfortable, warm and secure from dusk to dawn.
Protect nature
Why is dog access controlled on conservation land?
The short answer is, to protect native wildlife and to protect your dog.
To protect our precious native species, DOC carries out predator control using traps and poisons, and both can harm a dog. Some poisons can be fatal to dogs, so always check for signage and website notifications, and keep your dog on lead to keep them safe in areas where traps or poison are being used.
Dogs have also been known to get themselves into situations with dangerous wildlife such as sea lions and come out worse off. Keeping your dog under control or on a lead can mean the difference between an upsetting day out versus an awesome one.
Consider what’s best for your dog to keep them safe in all scenarios. Accidents and incidents can happen when out and about exploring nature.
Becoming a wildlife-wise dog owner helps to keep our wildlife and your dog safe in nature.
Vulnerable native wildlife
Dog attacks can kill or injure species such as kiwi, penguins, and fur seals. For sensitive species like kiwi, even one death can have a devastating impact on their recovery. It is illegal for dogs to injure or kill native wildlife in New Zealand and there is risk of fines and prosecution for owners.
Non-fatal attacks can also have large impacts. Penguins and seabirds may be scared away from nests and abandon eggs or chicks.
Dogs (and other pets) aren’t allowed in some conservation areas, like National Parks, as the risk to native wildlife is too great. In other areas dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead. Visit the DOC website to find tracks and campsites where dogs are welcome.
Image: DOC
Dogs on beaches
While your pooch might love a day at the beach, it’s important to remember that lots of native wildlife makes their home on the foreshore.
If you’re hunting with dogs on public conservation land, there are some rules you need to follow. For example, your dog may need to have avian avoidance training and a permit before it can come with you to the hunting block. For more info: Hunting with dogs: Hunting (doc.govt.nz)
Enjoy!
Summer holidays are even better with your dog. They love nothing more than hanging out with you in nature and having an adventure. So – check off what you need to know to keep them safe and legal, make sure you’ve given some thought to how you can protect New Zealand’s native wildlife while you’re out an about, and you’re good to go!
Throughout the year we get people messaging, emailing and calling us up to help them identify different animals, plants and creepy crawlies they’ve found around Aotearoa. Requests come through our social media accounts, visitor centres and the DOC call centre. This increases over the summer period with more New Zealanders out and about exploring over their holidays, and some even coming across our native species in their own backyards!
We love seeing the photos and descriptions of your feathered and scaley finds. We often do our best to help identify species in question, however we don’t always have a scientist or species expert on hand to help identify your finds. So, our recommendation to all observers out there whether you are an expert or an amateur when it comes to our native wildlife, is to join iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao.
This blog covers the ins and outs of New Zealand’s ever-growing online forum for the nature community, previously known as NatureWatch NZ.
New Zealand Red Admiral | Image: Tony Wills
So, what is iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao?
Have you ever encountered a reptile, bird, species or plant that was unfamiliar to you? No matter the location, iNaturalist helps identify all sorts of different species both animal and flora. It is a simple process, you create an account, upload your images and become part of a close-knit online community.
A place where you can record what you see in New Zealand nature, meet other nature watchers, and learn about Aotearoa’s natural world. All while contributing to science. Every observation can contribute to our country’s biodiversity science. iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao was created and is managed by the New Zealand Bio-Recording Network Trust (NZBRN Trust), a registered Charitable Trust in New Zealand.
Mātaki Taiao is the Māori name for iNaturalist, which translates to watching nature. The word Mātaki means to gaze, watch, inspect, examine, or observe. Taiao translates to the natural world around us.
Before iNaturalist, NatureWatch NZ was launched in 2005. It incorporated the same aim as iNaturalist; however, users were unable to upload images. iNaturalist was created a few years later in 2008, in California, after three university students came up with the concept for their final project of their master’s degree.
It grew substantially, and became popular internationally in the following years, and iNaturalist now has 1.8 million registered users globally. It is also co-owned by the California Academy of Sciences, and the National Geographic Society.
iNaturalist is tailored for those who are both curious and knowledgeable, who want to be involved in nature that is available at their fingertips no matter their level of expertise. This site allows the user to:
Keep track and record their encounters with other organisms on their account
Crowdsource identifications, you can connect with experts who can help you identify the organisms you observe
Learn about nature, the user can build their knowledge by talking with other naturalists and helping others
Create useful data, help scientists and resource managers understand when and where organisms occur
Become a Citizen Scientist, find a project with a mission that interests you, start your own or get started by recording observations
Don’t just take our word! Ecologist Jon Sullivan has earned the title of one of New Zealand’s most prolific users of the app and shares why it is important for the conservation of our native wildlife and flora, encouraging New Zealanders to continue to post their observations.
Jon Sullivan is an Ecologist at Lincoln University in Canterbury. Alone, he has recorded tens of thousands of pictures and audio recordings of the many different creatures found in Christchurch. This includes, birds, insects, plants, mould, and mushrooms he has observed.
Jon Sullivan, Lincoln University Ecologist – snaps a fern to log on iNaturalist | Image: Joseph Johnson/STUFF
Since its introduction, the app has helped keep track of pest populations, indicate the change in the climate and the cause it is having on the life cycle of different species.
It has also, been an important factor in rediscovering species that were thought to have been extinct and has even helped the discovery of some new species through the many experts within the community.
Jon Sullivan is the curator for the New Zealand branch of iNaturalist – Mātaki Taiao. Alongside the NZ Bio-Recording Network, Sullivan was instrumental in optimising iNaturalist for New Zealand users. In 2014, Aotearoa became only the second country in the world, to get our own regional network – Mexico being the first.
iNaturalist uses computer learning to give a quick indication of what species the user might have observed in the picture or audio recording. As well as being home to several different experts, who quickly weigh in on what has been captured through the images.
With over 40,000 entries observed, many New Zealand firsts, Jon Sullivan has also contributed to the app by identifying around 50,000 species for other users.
Tracking the spread of new species is important for biosecurity and stopping pests, while protecting what is already there. It is something anyone can help with.
“New Zealand nature is amazing, and we need New Zealanders to be aware of that and engaged in what’s around them…By everyone paying more attention to nature, we’re seeing more new things…It’s also great fun. It makes every day a bit more of an adventure.”
Several of Jon’s finds have even been made as close to home as his backyard! He has logged 591 species, including 209 plants and 119 moths or butterflies. Finding a new species in his Eucalyptus trees, a giant thrip, winged insect – the first encounter in the South Island.
How do you use iNaturalist – Mātaki Taiao?
No matter what level your expertise is, anyone can easily record their observations.
Go to https://inaturalist.nz/ or download the app from your app store on your mobile device.
Works on all your devices, you can always observe even without mobile reception or WIFI.
There are different components to the site, something for everyone. From observers to identifiers as well as different communities you can join. Projects is one of the many initiatives created on the site, where it allows you to pool your observations with other people. Whether you’re starting a citizen science effort of keeping tabs on the birds in your neighbourhood, Projects are the way to go.
iNaturalist NZ Guides, helps you learn about biodiversity all around the world. Wherever you’re exploring big or small, Guides can help you make sense of our planet’s range of diversity. The iNaturalist taxa guides are interactive online pictorial guides to assist in species identification. They can also be printed in various forms and enabled as offline guides available on mobile devices even when out of range of an internet connection.
Example of a Guide on iNaturalist
Guides have a front page with images of each species, and taxon pages describing each species.
User guides may have ‘tags’ describing attributes of each species, e.g. colour, size, shape (generally macro features that help distinguish between them). On the front page of each guide, you can select the attributes you observe and see the species that match.
Taxa info is available if you are looking to observe a particular group of species, such as kararehe (animals), reptiles, manu (birds), arachnids, fungi, amphibians, plants and aitanga pepeke (insects).
There has been mass engagement since the introduction of iNaturalist NZ, our own special regional network started, with 2,087,728 observations to date, 18,701 species observed, and 50,671 people have signed up, these numbers continue to grow each day.
Examples of the latest observations across the country
How to make an observation on iNaturalist:
Open the app or webpage, click the ‘observe’ icon. Here you can choose whether you’d like to take a photo, record sound, or upload an older photo.
Fill in what you saw – it’s okay to be vague like ‘duck’ or ‘mushroom’ if you’re not sure. The app can also use artificial intelligence to make suggestions.
Add where and when you saw it. Make sure to use the ‘captive/cultivated’ slider if it applies to your finding.
Press share. Experts will quickly weigh in to help verify your observation.
Before submitting your observations, make sure the photo is clear and showcases the species you are wanting to be identified.
To find different species in certain places around the country that have already been observed/identified go here. Places have been marked on the map of New Zealand; each place page displays all the species iNaturalist NZ knows about from that certain area. This includes information about the species abundance, conservation status, and who was the first to observe in that place on iNaturalist NZ. You can use filters to find what you are looking for base don taxonomic group, colour, conservation status, or just the full search option in the top right corner – which incorporates all of the above.
Example of the ‘Places’ section on iNaturalist showing the map of New Zealand
We at DOC strongly recommend our followers, as well as anyone who is interested in the many species our country has to offer, and the overall nature community, to download iNaturalist NZ. It is easy to make an account today. This site and app have been a huge help in the conservation of our land, species and nature since its introduction.
There have been species that have been rediscovered purely through an observation, where the location had been pinpointed, making it able to be identified from the experts onsite, these include our very own DOC staff. It is free to use, and we encourage you to have it available next time you are out and about as you do not need internet connection to be able to make observations making it accessible even out deep in the bush!
Make a difference and help preserve our native wildlife and flora this summer, by contributing to iNaturalist NZ today! And if you’re visiting Aotearoa this summer and want to continue observing in your own country, iNaturalist.org is your go to.
The summer season is upon us once again, and with that brings the festive spirit, family time, relaxation and many adventures. Many kiwis, nation and bird alike will be taking pause, time to themselves and looking to recuperate before the new year.
Whether you are an advanced tramper, or a complete amateur when it comes to our national walks, lakes, forests and wildlife, the same rules apply, we urge you to consider and respect the wildlife that call the environment surrounding you, home.
Always remember DOC HOT. Our emergency hotline that operates 24/7.
Call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) immediately if you see anyone catching, harming or killing native wildlife.
Here are 7 important top tips we have compiled for hanging out with the wildlife this summer:
1) Take time before you go to research, plan and understand the different wildlife that inhabit where you are planning to go
One of the most important tips to take with you, is having a clear plan of action ready and available to you when you are on your tramp/hike/bike or swim. New Zealand is precious – everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.
Make sure you are utilising all information available to you on our website, detailed tips and tricks for your desired destination.
Take care of Aotearoa, and alwaysbe prepared for your trip: – Weather – Maps – Land Safety Code – Take a distress beacon – Gear lists
Alerts: find out about changes in conservation areas that might affect the safety or enjoyment of your trip
Protect nature: keep your distance and don’t feed wildlife (more on this below). Follow any rules restricting dogs, fires, drones and vehicles. – How to behave around wildlife – Dog access – Pets on public conservation land – Fires on public conservation land
Over the days, weeks, months of your travelling/tramping/exploring, protect our precious native species by keeping your distance and not feeding them.
Don’t share your picnic with birds, no matter how convincing they may be, especially our cheeky kea.
Our birds evolved without human food and aren’t used to it – it can make them sick and can even be fatal. Wildlife congregating in areas known for human food can also spread disease. If kākā or kea eat food such as nuts and seeds they may develop metabolic bone disease.
So, don’t feed our wildlife – even if they ask.
3) If you want a picture, don’t get close – use your zoom instead
Getting too close stresses wildlife.
Top tip: enjoy marine mammals – from a distance. Especially seals and sea lions.
Keep at least 20 m, the length of two buses, away from seals and sea lions. If you are too close, they may panic and stampede, hurting themselves in the process. Some may become aggressive, especially if you are blocking their escape route to the sea or near their babies.
They can move as quickly as you can.
Although they look cute, they have a nasty bite. Their resting time on land is important, so try not to disturb them.
If you are in the water, on your boats, jet skis, paddle boarding or even just swimming – and you are lucky enough to see one of our marine mammals (e.g. dolphins or whales), it is important to stay back and give them space.
If you come across a roped off or signposted area, it may be a nesting ground for one of our critically endangered species, like dotterel or black billed gulls.
You need to avoid these places to protect our species.
Make sure your dogs are kept away as well.
It is important to remember, not all birds nesting spots are marked, so stay alert while walking on dunes or riverbeds and avoid any birds you see.
Driftwood provides good cover for New Zealand dotterel chicks and eggs Image: Mithuna Sothieson | DOC
5) Take extra care if you have dogs with you
Having your best friend on your adventure seems like a great idea at first, unless your best friend is furry and four-legged with a nose for investigating! Do yourself a favour, make sure you know where you can take your dog and access rules – different areas have different rules on if you can take your dog there or not. Some areas allow dogs, others require a permit, and some do not allow dogs at all.
Birds get stressed when chased by dogs. One panicked seal can start a chain reaction in a breeding colony, where pups are at risk of being crushed by adult seals rushing to the sea for safety.
A wildlife scan makes a good game plan.
Some of the wildlife on our beaches can be quite camouflaged. Sleeping fur seal/kekeno, or sea lion/pakake can look a lot like a log or bit of driftwood from a distance. Visually scan the area so you are always one step ahead of your dog and you can plan where to walk.
Example of fur seals/kekeno being well camouflaged. There’s a lot of seals in the background, can you spot them? Image: Shellie Evans
Different coloured leads
You might start noticing more traffic-light-coloured leads around the place because of Lead the Way. These are a bonus for dog safety as they let others know the temperament of your dog.
Green is friendly with dogs and people
Orange is caution sometimes nervous/reactive with new dogs or people
Red is often nervous or reactive with new dogs or people
Yellow is disabled so vulnerable to some interactions
It’s always good practice to ask an owner permission first before approaching their dog – no matter what colour lead, bandana or collar a dog might be wearing, if they say no, please respect their dog’s need for space.
Not all dogs like other dogs or people.
If you ignore dog access rules or conditions, you may be issued an infringement fine or prosecuted if you take your dogs into no access areas, controlled areas without a permit, or breach the conditions of your permit.
A dog may be seized and impounded or destroyed if it is found in a national park or controlled dog area without a permit.
Report dogs where they are not allowed to Animal Control or DOC:
Animal Control: +64 7 348 4199
0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
Cats are not allowed on national conservation land under any circumstances.
6) Keep New Zealand clean
Take all rubbish with you and use toilets where provided. Be a tidy kiwi, as you would do in your own home, our beautiful nature and wildlife deserve the same respect.
Like all waste, it’s important to properly dispose of used period products when tramping. Take used tampons and pads away with you and know how to properly empty menstrual cups in the backcountry.
Help keep our natural environment free of litter. Litter harms our environment and wildlife. This includes food scraps which feed pests like rats, stoats and mice.
Do not discard plastics, nylon fishing line and other types of rubbish at sea. Like whales, large filter-feeding sharks and rays can accidentally ingest these, and all species suffer from entanglement in marine debris.
7) Finally, be respectful
Respect others, respect culture.
Help everyone enjoy the outdoors by being considerate of others when you’re out in nature. Make space for others, keep noise down and read up on tramping hut etiquette.
Bikes, dogs and drones can really impact on other people, so make sure you are following the rules and being considerate to others.
Cultural heritage sites are places in the landscape that tell the physical, spiritual, and cultural stories of our past. They are places we value and connect to as New Zealanders. When visiting a heritage site please treat it with care and respect, so it can be enjoyed for many generations to come.
For Māori, public conservation land is a taonga (treasure) and of special significance. Many of these places are wāhi tapu (sacred to Māori) and need to be treated with respect. If you are visiting a place that is wāhi tapu, there may be restrictions on access. There may also be tikanga (protocols) in place, such as not eating, running, or making loud noises while at the wāhi tapu site. Respect these tikanga.
Be a good kiwi and help keep our land clean and free from harm.
This time of year, has snuck up on most of us, we know! So, make sure in all the last-minute adventures you are undertaking, you have made time to plan, prepare and are ready to protect. Act responsibly and safely for yourself, as well as those of all species, sizes and forms in the environment surrounding us that need our help to keep Aotearoa their home.
