Department of Conservation
Jan 7, 2025 · We need your help to grow funding for nature. By donating to these DOC nature projects you can help protect endangered species and habitats. Avian influenza (also called bird flu) is a contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds and is caused by avian influenza viruses.
Milford Track: Fiordland National Park, Fiordland region
From late October to April, experience 'the finest walk in the world' - along valleys carved by glaciers, through ancient rainforests and past cascading waterfalls. From May to late October, it can be cold and wet, with ice, snow and short daylight hours - only go if you have alpine, river crossing and navigation skills.
DOC maps: Discover the outdoors
Explore New Zealand's outdoors with DOC maps, featuring key places, campsites, tracks, huts, and visitor centres.
Kiwi: New Zealand native land birds - Department of Conservation
The kiwi is a unique and curious bird: it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs and no tail. Learn more about the kiwi, the national icon of New Zealand and unofficial national emblem.
Habitat and islands: Kākāpō - Department of Conservation
Before humans settled here, kākāpō were widespread on mainland New Zealand. Sub-fossil remains and Māori middens (kitchen waste-piles) suggest they lived in a wide range of habitats and were once one of the most common bird species in New Zealand. The best kākāpō habitat is protected forest ...
Kākāpō: New Zealand native land birds - Department of …
Kākāpō Recovery leads kākāpō conservation efforts today.They face major challenges due to kākāpō infertility and inbreeding. Nevertheless, they've had some triumphant successes using innovative techniques to grow the population.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Tongariro National Park, Central North ...
May to late October – winter season. Special skills and preparation are required to complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in winter. There is increased risk from snow, ice, avalanche terrain and sub-zero temperatures.
Te Whanganui-o-Hei Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve
The reserve protects a wide range of habitats from sandy flats to rocky reefs, offering great snorkelling and diving. Visitors to the reserve can also enjoy swimming, kayaking and viewing the interesting coastal geology. The marine reserve was established in …
Wasps: Animal pests - Department of Conservation
New Zealand has several kinds of native wasps which have evolved here and have never become a nuisance. But five social species of wasps have been accidentally introduced since the 1940s and are classed as pests (German and common wasps, and three species of paper wasp).
Facts about kiwi: NZ Native birds - Department of Conservation
Kiwi are ratites. The closest relatives to today’s kiwi are the extinct elephant birds from Madagascar. They are also related to emus and cassowaries of Australia, and the extinct moa of New Zealand.