Category: Environment

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/women-shaping-the-future-of-aotearoa-recognised-in-inaugural-women-of-impact-in-property-list/

March 7, 2026

REVEALED: Scientists’ discovery of ancient deep sea corals brings new hope for protection against threat of industrial fishing – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

New scientific research from Greenpeace has uncovered ancient and fragile corals at a Lord Howe Rise seamount in the South Pacific, an area of huge ecological significance in the high seas that has never been surveyed before.

This scientific discovery, from just one seamount on the Lord Howe Rise, has proven for the first time that the seamount is a vulnerable marine ecosystem. This new status should protect it from destructive bottom trawling, according to international rules intended to protect these fragile ecosystems. This discovery comes as bottom trawling was temporarily paused in the area in 2024, but threatens to make a return.

The scientists catalogued a total of 350 corals, sponges and other life forms in just a fraction of the Lord Howe Rise seamount – many of which are 100+ years old and some reaching almost 2 metres in height. Slow-growing and fragile, the corals include bamboo, golden, precious, stony, hydro and black, in addition to sponges, sea lilies and anemones.

Vulnerable marine ecosystems are fragile, rare, or complex marine habitats that are highly susceptible to irreparable damage from human activities. Campaigners say this means that the area must be closed to damaging bottom trawling for good – widely considered to be the greatest threat to seamount ecosystems.

Commenting, Greenpeace Aotearoa Ocean Campaigner Ellie Hooper who led the scientific expedition to Lord Howe Rise, says:

“It was moving and awe-inspiring to see these vibrant corals and fragile sponges streamed up from the deep, but right now they face an uncertain future. If this site is reopened, these ancient species could be destroyed by New Zealand bottom trawlers in the future. And this discovery is just a tiny snapshot of life in the area.

“The New Zealand government must stop protecting the interests of industrial fishing companies and not attempt to reopen the area for bottom trawling. Every other nation has stopped this destructive practice in the region, are they not embarrassed to be the only ones left?

“We are now armed with the proof we needed that bottom trawling must be banned here. It’s clear that this is a vulnerable marine ecosystem so it’s crucial we act now to protect this fragile life in the deep from destruction.”

Lord Howe Rise is of huge ecological significance, but despite this it remains under serious threat. Whilst the seamount surveyed was temporarily closed to bottom trawling in 2024 after a New Zealand trawler – the Tasman Viking – dragged up 37kg of coral, the New Zealand government could push to reopen that area to destructive bottom trawling, which could destroy the ancient corals and sponges scientists have documented there.

The New Zealand government in early 2026 submitted a proposal to increase the amount of coral and other vulnerable deep-sea species that can be trawled up as bycatch on the high seas without consequence. This proposal was submitted ahead of the annual meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation this week, with Greenpeace also submitting the findings from Lord Howe.

International resolutions state that vulnerable marine ecosystems should be protected from bottom trawling due to their fragility, ecosystem importance and slow recovery rate, making them incredibly vulnerable to this fishing method.

The area is being considered for one of the world’s first ocean sanctuaries under the Global Ocean Treaty, which came into force earlier this year.

Notes and Images and video here:

Lord Howe Rise stills and video.
Seamount Expedition stills
– The scientific evidence has been submitted to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) Commission 2026 which took place 2-6 March in Panama. This is where the New Zealand Government has also submitted their proposal to increase the amount of coral and other vulnerable species that can be caught as bycatch.
– 350 examples of coral, sponges and deep sea life were cataloged (for clarity – note this is not 350 different species but rather 350 instances of deep sea taxa)
– The scientific analysis was conducted on a subset of footage recorded during deep-sea video surveys from the Greenpeace Seamounts Expedition in March 2025. The seamount is on the Central Lord Howe Rise, in international waters managed by the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO). Of the 77 still images analysed to determine if they met the VME FAO Deep-sea Fisheries criteria 45% (33) were classified a VMEs. 59 individual deep-sea coral and sponge taxon have been aged by expert taxonomists at over 100+ years old, and some likely even 200+ years old, based on their heights and published growth rates.
– International rules (UNGA Resolutions (61/105 & 64/72) mandate that vulnerable marine ecosystems should be protected from bottom trawling due to their fragility, ecosystem importance and slow recovery rate, making them incredibly vulnerable to this fishing method.

– United Nations Second World Ocean Assessment (2021) p439

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/revealed-scientists-discovery-of-ancient-deep-sea-corals-brings-new-hope-for-protection-against-threat-of-industrial-fishing-greenpeace/

Vietnam’s Unified Political System Drives to End IUU Fishing

Source: Media Outreach

Eight years after the EC (European Commission) issued its “yellow card” warning over Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Vietnam’s entire political system is executing comprehensive measures with unprecedented resolve. The campaign to remove the IUU yellow card transcends mere commercial calculations; it has become inextricably linked to national prestige, the livelihoods of fishing communities, and the sustainable future of the fisheries sector.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2026 – Combating IUU fishing represents a critical and urgent national mission with enduring implications for sustainable fisheries development. This mission constitutes a collective mandate that rests with the entire political system and society, presenting a pivotal opportunity to restructure, modernise, and transform the fisheries sector’s sustainable development strategy while ensuring social equity.

Removing the EC’s yellow card warning embodies Vietnam’s honour, responsibility, and national interest, essential elements for enhancing the reputation and global competitiveness of Vietnamese seafood products. Simultaneously, combating IUU fishing and developing a responsible, internationally integrated fisheries sector stands as a cornerstone of the blue economy agenda, ranking among the Vietnamese Government’s highest priorities in recent years.

Institutional Reform in Fisheries Management

Vietnam’s commitment manifests through sweeping legislative reforms. Decree 26/2019 established comprehensive traceability requirements, mandating that every kilogram of seafood must carry verifiable proof of legal origin from the moment of harvest until reaching international buyers.

Subsequent decrees (No. 42/2019, 37/2024, 38/2024, 301/2025) have progressively clarified liability, extending sanctions to both vessel owners and captains, substantially increasing penalties for specific violations, and introducing supplementary sanctions and remedial measures to ensure rigorous enforcement. These enhanced penalties strengthen deterrence capabilities against IUU violations.

The amended Fisheries Law 2017, effective January 1, 2026, incorporates crucial provisions including: (i) transferring certain authorities from the National Assembly to the Government/Ministries to ensure responsive IUU enforcement; (ii) delegating authority to establish fishing permit conditions to the Government (Article 50, Clause 2); (iii) expanding regulatory authority over vessel deregistration cases (Article 50, Clause 5); (iv) transferring authority to establish fishing port criteria and the procedures for opening and closing fishing ports to the Minister of Agriculture and Environment (Article 78); and (v) incorporating requirements for export vessels to meet Government-prescribed conditions (Article 66).

Integrated Technology for Vessel Management and Monitoring

Central to implementing the EC inspection team’s fourth-round recommendations is the deployment of a comprehensive fishing vessel management and monitoring system. Bolstered by the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on scientific-technological breakthroughs, innovation, and national digital transformation, technology has become indispensable to the yellow card removal campaign.

The eCDT system now enables end-to-end data digitisation for monitoring vessel port entries and departures, while the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tracks all vessels exceeding 15 meters operating offshore.

Fishing vessels may only register for local operations when allocated fishing permit quotas remain available. Registered vessels are comprehensively catalogued in the national fisheries database (VNFishbase), with ownership information verified against the national population database (VNeID), enabling effective management, operational control, and administrative violation processing while ensuring seamless coordination between central and local authorities.

Establishing Traceability Mechanisms for Domestic and Imported Fisheries Products

As of December 31, 2025, Vietnam has declared 86 operational fishing ports, with continued investment in planned ports to enhance vessel monitoring capacity. The nationally deployed eCDT system now manages complete fishing vessel operations while ensuring transparent traceability of harvested aquatic products. System participation among vessels, fishermen, and enterprises continues growing, with mandatory eCDT and electronic logbook implementation scheduled for all operational fishing vessels.

In 2025, the eCDT system recorded 158,885 port departures (an increase of 81,158 vessels, up 104.41% from 2024) and 154,657 port arrivals (up 88,032 vessels, a 132.13% increase from 2024). Certification and confirmation of harvested aquatic product origins now strictly adhere to legal requirements.

Regarding imported harvest traceability: 14 designated seaports have been announced for foreign vessel arrivals, fully implementing PSMA, compliant control measures for imported harvested aquatic materials and container-shipped products. Domestic and imported harvest traceability mechanisms now operate with rigorous oversight, ensuring full compliance with Vietnamese and international legal frameworks. Notably, no violations have been detected in shipments to European markets since the fourth inspection mission (October 2023).

Legal Enforcement and Violation Processing

A unified vessel monitoring system operates consistently from central to local levels, tracking all vessels exceeding 15 meters in offshore waters. By December 31, 2025, all remaining cases of VMS signal loss and unauthorised boundary crossings have been resolved, with continued strict enforcement against emerging violations.

Coastal provincial authorities conduct regular reviews of vessel registration, surveying, and fishing permit issuance to eliminate unregistered, unlicensed, and VMS-deficient vessels and deregistered vessels still operating. These measures have significantly reduced foreign waters violations.

Sanctions against vessels and fishermen violating foreign waters have intensified, producing measurable improvements. In 2025, 20 vessels detained by foreign authorities underwent investigation, with 17 cases (85%) now resolved. Overall detention figures since 2017 show marked reduction, with complete cessation of violations in Pacific island nations. Currently, only six localities report vessel detentions compared to ten previously.
Vietnam maintains an unequivocal zero-tolerance stance toward IUU violations, committing to continued rigorous processing of remaining cases upon receiving complete vessel and captain information from detaining nations.

Analysts suggest the finish line is approaching. “Vietnam has accomplished more in eight years than many nations achieve in decades,” observers note. “Yellow card removal would not merely boost GDP, it would demonstrate Vietnam’s capacity for ocean governance leadership.”
Vietnam presents a transformed reality: bustling ports equipped with digital inspection infrastructure, vessels monitored by satellite tracking systems, and a fishing community actively upholding government mandates.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/vietnams-unified-political-system-drives-to-end-iuu-fishing/

Appointments – Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Appoints New Chief Executive

Source: Heritage New Zealand

Appointment announced by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga announces the appointment of Dean Whiting MNZM (Te Whānau ā Apanui/ Farquharson) as its new Chief Executive / Manahautū.

Mr Whiting will move from his current position as Deputy Chief Executive Kaihautū Māori. Mr Whiting has been the Acting CEO since the completion of tenure of former CE, Andrew Coleman, in 2025. As a long-serving staff member of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Mr Whiting has led programmes supporting the protection, conservation, and celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s heritage places, taonga and cultural landscapes.

In 2023, Mr Whiting was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Māori Arts, recognising his significant contribution to Māori arts revitalisation and preservation. His work has included hands on leadership of the Māori Built Heritage Programme of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and wide-ranging support and advice to Māori communities across the motu.

Mr Whiting has also served on the Boards of the Arts Council of New Zealand, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and worked as a project conservator for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. He is currently chair of the Tohu Whenua heritage tourism programme and leading the governance oversight of seismic strengthening and adaptive reuse of Turnbull House in Wellington. His long-standing commitment to strengthening the heritage sector reflects a future-focused approach to safeguarding both heritage places and our significant cultural landscapes.

Board Chair Dame Jo Brosnahan says the organisation is well-positioned for the future with Mr Whiting at the helm. “Dean’s appointment marks an important next step for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. His deep experience, proven leadership and clear strategic focus give the Board great confidence as we enter a new phase of strengthening partnerships, supporting our people, and delivering on our long-term heritage responsibilities.”

Edward Ellison, Deputy Chair of the Board and Chair of the Māori Heritage Council, warmly welcomes the appointment. “The legacy of Te Māori – the landmark international exhibition – lives on in this moment. Dean was part of the original cohort of conservators whose training was made possible by Te Māori, and he carries that whakapapa of heritage revitalisation into this role. It is deeply fitting that Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is now led by someone shaped by that moment.”

Mr Whiting brings deep organisational knowledge and a long-standing commitment to bicultural partnership under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014. His appointment marks a continuation of the organisation’s strategic focus on ensuring sites and stories that are important to all New Zealanders are protected and revitalised for future generations.

About Dean Whiting MNZM

Dean Whiting MNZM completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in the Conservation of Cultural Materials (Canberra, Aus) in the late 1980s with a cohort of Māori students who continue to be regarded as New Zealand’s leading experts in the conservation of traditional Māori arts. He has worked for more than 30 years as both an independent conservator, Project Conservator at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga on the conservation of Māori cultural heritage. Dean was most recently the Deputy Chief Executive Kaihautū Māori for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and has served on the Board of Creative New Zealand between 2017 and 2022 and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). In 2023 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Māori Arts.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/appointments-heritage-new-zealand-pouhere-taonga-appoints-new-chief-executive/

Sediment Diver with arm buried – Shaun Lee

Hauraki Gulf – Connection with one of Auckland’s great backyards

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

It’s hard to believe that Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, our largest, busiest and most densely populated city in New Zealand hosts one of the most abundant and diverse marine parks in the world.

Our treasured Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, New Zealand’s only national park of the sea, is 1.2 million hectares and includes more than 200 islands and islets, including 47 pest-free islands where numerous endangered species can survive and thrive. On top of this, there is now 19 new protection areas – two marine reserve extensions, 12 new high protection areas, and five new seafloor protection areas in the Gulf.

Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland from the harbour.
: DOC

Getting out on the water it didn’t take long to realise that lots of people have a strong connection to the marine park. It wasn’t just rec fishers out mid-week enjoying a spot of fishing, I saw boaties sailing and exploring the Gulf as well as plenty of visitors heading out to the islands, connecting with the wildlife that calls the Hauraki Gulf home.

As a new DOC staff member in an office role, and someone who’s lived in Auckland most of my life without even realising the marine park existed, it’s been pretty special getting out to see what Tāmaki Makaurau’s greatest backyards is actually like.

Out there, the city fades away surprisingly quickly. You’re surrounded by islands, seabirds wheeling overhead, and a sense that there’s a whole other world beneath the surface.

That connection to the ocean is exactly what Seaweek celebrates – the idea that people, wildlife and the environment are all linked. And it’s also what the new marine protections for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park aim to support for years to come.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0062.JPG

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Diver with fish Mokohinau islands – Monique ladds

A special place beneath the waves

The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi is one of Aotearoa’s most loved marine environments. It’s home to an incredible variety of marine life and habitats – from rocky reefs and kelp forests to seagrass meadows and shellfish beds.

These habitats support the species many people care about when they head out on the water. Fish like snapper, kahawai and trevally are a big part of the Gulf’s fishing culture. Divers and snorkellers get to explore underwater forests of kelp and rocky reefs teeming with life.

But like many places around the world, the Gulf has been under pressure.

Sediment washing into the sea, pollution, habitat loss and fishing pressure over many years have taken a toll on parts of the marine environment. Some shellfish beds have declined, seagrass meadows have shrunk, and in some places kelp forests have been replaced by “kina barrens” where sea urchins dominate and not much else grows.

When habitats struggle, the species that rely on them struggle too.

That’s why there’s been a big push in recent years to revitalise the Gulf.

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Sediment Diver with arm buried – Shaun Lee

A boost for the Gulf

A major step forward came in late 2025 with the introduction of new marine protections across the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

The new network includes 19 marine protection areas spread across the Gulf. These include marine reserve extensions, high protection areas and seafloor protection areas. Together they represent the biggest increase in marine protection in Aotearoa in more than a decade.

These areas were chosen because they protect important habitats and ecosystems – places that are especially rich in marine life, rare, or particularly important for the health of the wider Gulf.

Some areas protect rocky reefs that support thriving underwater communities. Others protect seafloor habitats like seagrass meadows or shellfish beds that act as nurseries for young fish.

Protecting these places helps rebuild the foundations of the Gulf’s marine ecosystem.

What the new protections mean

The different protection areas each play a role in helping marine life recover.

Marine reserves offer the highest level of protection. No fishing or removal of marine life is allowed, but people can still visit, snorkel, dive or explore the area. These reserves often become incredible underwater hotspots where marine life can thrive.

High protection areas are designed to give ecosystems a chance to bounce back. Fishing and the removal of natural materials are mostly prohibited, though authorised customary fishing by tangata whenua can continue.

Seafloor protection areas focus on protecting sensitive habitats on the seabed. Activities that damage the seafloor, like bottom trawling or dredging, are restricted, while low-impact activities like line fishing, diving and spearfishing can still happen.

Importantly, most of the Hauraki Gulf is still open to recreational fishing. The aim isn’t to shut people out, but to protect key parts of the ecosystem so the Gulf stays healthy into the future.

Why marine protection helps

Marine protection is one of the most effective tools we have to help ocean ecosystems recover.

In protected areas, fish often grow bigger, populations increase and ecosystems become more balanced. Over time, some of those fish move into nearby areas where fishing is allowed – something often called the “spillover effect”.

Healthy habitats also play a huge role in supporting fish populations. Seagrass meadows and shellfish reefs, for example, act like underwater nurseries where young fish can grow before heading out into deeper waters.

Looking after these habitats helps ensure the Gulf continues to support the marine life – and fishing experiences – that people value.

Sponge Garden – Paul Caiger

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Sponge Garden – Paul Caiger

Working together for the Gulf

The new protections are just one piece of a much bigger effort to revitalise the Hauraki Gulf.

Restoring the Gulf also means tackling the pressures that come from land, such as sediment runoff and pollution, as well as restoring habitats like mussel reefs and improving fisheries management.

Tangata whenua have played an important role in shaping the protections and continue their role as kaitiaki of the Gulf, bringing generations of knowledge and care for this special place.

DOC rangers will also be working on the water and with local communities to help people understand the new protections and where they apply.

Revitalising the Gulf will take time, but every step helps move things in the right direction.

Staying connected to the ocean

Spending time out on the water really drove home just how important the Hauraki Gulf is to so many people.

For some it’s about fishing with mates or family. For others it’s sailing between islands, exploring a new beach, or diving beneath the surface to see what’s there.

These experiences shape the way we connect with the ocean.

By protecting important parts of the Gulf, we’re helping make sure those experiences are still possible for future generations – so kids growing up in Tāmaki Makaurau and visitors from all over New Zealand and the world can discover the amazing marine life beneath the waves just like people do today.

Seaweek is a great reminder that everything is connected – the land, the sea, wildlife and people.

The new marine protections in the Hauraki Gulf are all about strengthening those connections and helping this incredible ocean backyard thrive for years to come.

Common dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf
: DOC

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/hauraki-gulf-connection-with-one-of-aucklands-great-backyards/

Otago Hector’s dolphin project to reveal links to other populations

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 06 March 2026

Hector’s dolphins, also known as tutumairekurai, pahu, or upokohue, are endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand and considered a taonga species. They are one of the smallest dolphins in the world and known for their rounded ‘Mickey Mouse ear’ shaped dorsal fin.

With an estimated population of around 15,700, they are managed under the Hector’s and Māui Dolphin Threat Management Plan, which recognises four distinct Hector’s dolphin sub-populations around Te Waipounamu/South Island. The East Coast population is considered to be made up of a number of smaller local populations.

DOC Senior Science Advisor Anton van Helden says little is known about how the small Otago group connects to other populations.

“Until now, conservation management for the small Hector’s dolphin population in Otago has been based on their assumed connection to adjacent populations along the East Coast,” he says.

“Recent genetic work has suggested that they may be more closely aligned with the South Coast sub-population.

“By collecting high quality genetic samples, we can determine how closely related – or not – the dolphins in this area are to neighbouring groups and ensure they are managed appropriately.”

The survey expands on work DOC started last year and builds on recent environmental DNA (eDNA) research by the University of Otago.

“This raises important questions about population connectivity, and exposure to and our management response to regional threats such as fishing bycatch impacts and diseases like toxoplasmosis,” Anton says.

The survey will use a well-established biopsy sampling technique, where a small, lightweight dart collects tiny skin and blubber samples from free-swimming dolphins. This method has been safely used on Māui dolphins for more than 15 years and provides high quality DNA with minimal disturbance.

“The tiny samples we collect are archived in the New Zealand Cetacean Tissue Archive (NZCeTA) and will give us opportunities to understand genetic relationships, age structure, aspects of their diet, and even reproductive status,” says Anton.

The survey will run from Monday 9 March to Sunday 22 March, covering the coastline from just south of Oamaru to the Taieri Head. Surveys are planned for the Catlins in 2027.

Sample analysis will be carried out in collaboration with the University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau and mana whenua.

Data collected through this work will support the long-term protection of Hector’s dolphins and help ensure the species endures for future generations.

People out naturing on the water can help by reporting Hector’s dolphin sightings using the SeaSpotter app or via our online Marine mammal sighting form.

Background information

For more information on Hector’s dolphins, and DOC’s work to protect them: Hector’s dolphin: marine mammals

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/otago-hectors-dolphin-project-to-reveal-links-to-other-populations/

Old photos reveal big changes in West Coast marine environment

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 06 March 2026

West Coast Marine Ranger Don Neale was given the photos which show coastal areas from the 1960’s and the 1970’s, revealing significant changes that would otherwise have gone either un-noticed, or be hard to verify from personal memories.

“The photos show changes in life in the intertidal area – which is the area between the sea and shore where water comes and goes,” Don says.

The pictures are adding to the photographic monitoring of kelp beds already underway on the West Coast since 2004.

“Some of the changes in sea life we’ve seen on the rocky coasts include loss of bull kelp, mussels, seaweeds and barnacles. In some places, the seaweeds inhabiting some areas have changed entirely,” says Don.

“These changes are important to monitor, as the species that live in the marine environment are important to the health of the wider marine ecosystem.”

The work is part of DOC’s marine monitoring work which focuses on the region’s five marine reserves. These are fully protected places where scientists and locals can learn more about the effects of marine protection, as being no-take areas, they provide “control” sites for wider marine study.

Don says, “Having marine reserves improves our understanding of the changes happening in the marine environment, and the effects that people are having on our coasts and oceans.

“DOC would like to hear from anyone who has other examples of coastal photography that might help to add to the stories that these photos tell.

“It can become a great way for anyone to do some naturing through ‘citizen science’, to track changes in your own bit of coastline over time.”

People can contact Hokitika@doc.govt.nz and reference this article if they have photos to share or are interested in contributing.

It’s great timing to get involved now as its currently Seaweek. The community led initiative which celebrates the wonders of the ocean is running until 8 March.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/old-photos-reveal-big-changes-in-west-coast-marine-environment/

Huawei Highlights Digital Inclusion and Conservation Tech as AI Use Accelerates

Source: Media Outreach

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Huawei gathered partners, policymakers and international media in Barcelona on March 1 and 2, ahead of Mobile World Congress, to discuss narrowing connectivity and digital skills gaps as artificial intelligence spreads through sectors including healthcare, finance and public services.

About 80 guests attended the first day’s forum at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Barcelona Fira. In remarks published by Huawei, Yang Chaobin, CEO of Huawei ICT BG, said the digital divide “seems to be widening further” even as AI accelerates. “High-speed networks and robust computing facilities are essential foundations for an inclusive and sustainable AI era,” he said.

The International Telecommunication Union estimates about 2.2 billion people were still offline in 2025. Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said inclusion must be treated as a prerequisite for the AI era.

“AI must strengthen meaningful connectivity and support inclusive digital transformation. This requires responsible AI governance, investment in local talent and content, and capacity building, particularly for young girls, women, indigenous communities and marginalized groups.”

Huawei said it has fulfilled a commitment under the ITU Partner2Connect Digital Coalition to help expand connectivity in remote regions. By the end of 2025, the company said its initiatives had supported digital access for 170 million people in rural and underserved areas across more than 80 countries. In a Huawei news release, Jeff Wang, president of Huawei Public Affairs and Communications, said: “To bridge the digital skills gap, Huawei works closely with governments and partners to enhance digital access, deliver skills training, and advance STEM education for underserved communities.”

On March 2, the focus shifted to conservation with a visit to Spain’s Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac. Here, digital monitoring tools are being used to support biodiversity protection, including efforts to safeguard the endangered Bonelli’s eagle alongside better managing potential impacts from outdoor activities like climbing on rock-dwelling birds and caving on protected bat species. The project forms part of the Tech4Nature initiative, developed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to support digital tools in protected areas across 11 countries.

Sònia Llobet, the park’s director, said the project is helping managers balance visitor access with nature protection.

“As park managers, our challenge is how to make visitor access compatible with the conservation of this natural space,” she said. “This project is helping us answer some of the questions we face in balancing tourism and environmental protection.”

Hashtag: #Huawei

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/huawei-highlights-digital-inclusion-and-conservation-tech-as-ai-use-accelerates/

Environmental-economic accounts: Data to 2024 – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Environmental-economic accounts: Data to 2024 – information release

5 March 2026

Environmental-economic accounts show how our environment contributes to our economy, the impacts of economic activity on our environment, and how we respond to environmental issues.

Stats NZ’s environmental-economic accounts show the interactions between the environment and the economy to provide a clearer understanding of environmental-economic pressures, dependencies, trade-offs, and impacts. It is done within the United Nations’ System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework, which specifies how environmental data can be integrated coherently with economic data from the System of National Accounts.

All accounts are expressed in current prices for the year ended March.

Key facts
In the year ended March 2024:

total environmental taxes were $6.0 billion, most of which were transport (50.4 percent) and energy (44.9 percent) taxes. From 2023 to 2024, environmental taxes increased 14.3 percent ($748 million).
the marine economy contributed $5.2 billion to New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP). This was an increase of 7.4 percent compared with 2023. The contribution of the marine economy to GDP in 2024 was 1.2 percent.
the total asset value of renewable energy was $11.9 billion. Hydro generation made up 67.8 percent of total asset value, followed by geothermal (20.2 percent).
central and local government expenditure on environmental protection (on a final consumption basis) increased 9.8 percent ($277 million) to total $3.1 billion. Local government contributed 66.9 percent ($2.1 billion) to this total, and central government contributed 33.1 percent ($1.0 billion).

Visit our website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:

For media enquiries contact: Media team, Wellington, media@stats.govt.nz“>media@stats.govt.nz, 021 285 9191

The Government Statistician authorises all statistics and data we publish.

Ngā mihi,
Publishing
Stats NZ

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/06/environmental-economic-accounts-data-to-2024-stats-nz-information-release/

Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects in collaboration with WWF-HK Proposed Four Recommendations to transform Ngam Tam Mei into an iconic rural ecotourism township in the Northern Metropolis

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – The Town Planning Board (TPB) will hold a hearing tomorrow for public representations on the new Ngau Tam Mei (NTM) Outline Zoning Plan. The traditional farming landscape in NTM has existed for over a hundred years. This rural township has also preserved the industry of ornamental fish aquaculture (particularly koi), an industry that has almost disappeared in Hong Kong. In terms of ecology, NTM is closely linked with the Deep Bay wetlands and the future Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park, and supports Eurasian Otter and many wetland birds. In view of these, the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA) and World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF) are proposing four enhancement recommendations, which aims to conserve traditional cultural and historic heritage, build public spaces that can be used by both human and wildlife under the “single site, multiple use” model, and transform NTM into an iconic town of rural ecotourism in the Northern Metropolis.

When proposing these enhancement recommendations, HKILA and WWF aim to:

Create a people-oriented livable city
Achieve a future in which people live in harmony with nature
Promote urban-rural integration
Enhance biodiversity
Adopt Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the development

Details of the four enhancement recommendations are as follows:

Retain the existing koi fish farming ponds (approximately 7 hectares) east of the NTM UniTown, and transform them into a thematic Koi Park, creating public open space while conserving wetland habitats for various wildlife, preserving Hong Kong’s ornamental fish aquaculture industry, and also promoting innovative themed rural tourism.
Preserve the existing agricultural land and fishponds located within the proposed station plaza and riverside park areas as far as possible, and redevelop them into a Lotus Pond Park (approximately 12 hectares) featuring the characteristic Jiangnan waterscape style. This would provide an open wetland landscape for the city centre, enhance ecological functions, and create a distinctive attraction of local thematic immersive tourism.
Taking the opportunity to revitalise the main NTM river channel and construct a multifunctional blue-green corridor, the artificial channel should be ecologically restored. The existing fishponds and agricultural land within the proposed blue-green corridor (approximately 6 ha) should be preserved to enhance ecological value but also increase landscape diversity. These fishponds and agricultural land could further serve purposes such as flood storage and leisure farming.
At Yau Pok Road, the NTM river channel should be modified to divert part of the river flow into the wetland area between Fairview Park and Palm Springs, which falls under the future Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park. Additionally, the associated “Recreation” zone along Yau Pok Road and the river channel should be rezoned to “Open Space” to serve as an extension of the NTM blue-green corridor to improve ecological connectivity. Furthermore, the permitted building heights for the “Residential (Group A) 2” sites in Areas 4A and 4B should be reduced, adopting a stepped building profile on the side facing the river channel to minimise impacts on birds.

Mr. Paul Chan, President of HKILA, pointed out that: “Through close collaboration between HKILA and WWF, our joint recommendations for Ngau Tam Mei bring together landscape and ecological considerations, aligning with Greater Bay Area strategies such as ecological priority and green development. Transforming existing koi farms and other habitats into thematic parks and blue-green corridors will foster urban-rural integration, promote innovative ecotourism, and build a high-quality, healthy, and biodiverse community that balances growth with diversified landscape.”

Dr. Bosco Chan, Director, Conservation of WWF, shared that “The rural landscapes and traditional cultural heritage of Ngau Tam Mei represent a unique opportunity to integrate nature-based solutions into the Northern Metropolis. Our joint recommendations leverage the existing wildlife habitats and thematic local industries to preserve biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and develop innovative rural tourism. Ultimately, our aim is to create shared spaces where people and wildlife can thrive together, not just in Ngau Tam Mei but also across the Northern Metropolis.”

HKILA and WWF will attend the public hearing held by the TPB on 6 March to brief the TPB members on our recommendations. HKILA and WWF hope that the TPB and the relevant government departments would consider and adopt our proposal, creating a quality, healthy and green Northern Metropolis. HKILA and WWF also hope that the Government will maintain the dialogue with relevant stakeholders on the development and planning of the Northern Metropolis to achieve a win-win situation.

https://wwf.org.hk
https://www.facebook.com/wwfhongkong
https://www.instagram.com/wwfhk/?hl=en

Hashtag: #WWFHK #HKILA #Townplanningboard #NbS

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/05/hong-kong-institute-of-landscape-architects-in-collaboration-with-wwf-hk-proposed-four-recommendations-to-transform-ngam-tam-mei-into-an-iconic-rural-ecotourism-township-in-the-northern-metropolis/

PolyU research unveils mechanoelectrical perception in sea urchin spines, empowering next-generation biomimetic sensors

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Sea urchin spines are not only for defence—they also act as natural sensors. A research team led by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Dean of Graduate School, Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering and Chair Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), together with scholars from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), has discovered the mechanoelectrical perception in sea urchin spines, originating in their gradient porous structure, that allows the spines to instantly detect water flow. Using 3D printing, the team has replicated this structure and developed a bionic metamaterial sensor, which holds promise for breakthroughs in sensing technology. This innovation will drive the advancement of deep-sea technology such as marine monitoring and underwater infrastructure management, and can be extended to other emerging fields like brain-computer interfacing and aerospace.

A research team led by Prof. Wang Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Dean of Graduate School, Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering and Chair Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of PolyU, has discovered the mechanoelectrical perception in sea urchin spines. It originates in the spines’ gradient porous structure that generates electrical signals when water flows through it. The team used 3D printing technology to replicate the structure and develop a novel bionic metamaterial sensor.

The research team found that, in the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum), when a seawater droplet strikes the tip of a spine, the spine rotates rapidly within a second. Electrical measurements revealed that the droplet simulation produced a voltage of about 100 millivolts inside the spine; when the spine is immersed in water, water flow stimulation triggers a voltage of several tens of millivolts. This mechanoelectrical perception was observed even in dead spines, indicating that the mechanism is unrelated to biological cells.

This response originates from the stereom structure of the spine—the porous internal skeleton composed of pores with varying sizes and distributions. These pores exhibit a gradual gradient along the spine from the base to the tip: larger pores and lower solid density at the base, and smaller pores and higher solid density at the tip, forming a bicontinuous gradient porous structure. As water flows through the porous structure, solid-liquid interfacial interaction occurs and the flow exerts shear force on the electric double layer, inducing the separation and redistribution of interfacial charge, which generates a voltage difference. The gradient structure intensifies the interaction between water flow and pore surfaces, resulting in a stronger voltage difference and enhancing the spine’s sensing capabilities.

Inspired by these findings, the researchers used vat photopolymerisation 3D printing to create artificial samples from polymer and ceramic materials that resemble the spine’s stereom. Experiments showed that the spine-mimicking design produce a voltage output about three times higher and an amplitude about eight times greater than non-gradient designs under water flow stimulation, demonstrating that the key to the mechanoelectrical perception lies in the structure rather than the material. They also constructed a bionic 3D metamaterial mechanoreceptor that is designed in a 3 × 3 array with each unit made of gradient porous material. This mechanoreceptor can record electrical signals in real time underwater and precisely locate the position of water flow impact, without the need for additional electricity.

The research team points out that the gradient porous structure in sea urchin spines enhances signal transmission, thereby improving the precision and sensitivity of the mechanoreceptor. By replicating this structure in different materials, it is possible to extend its application beyond water flow sensing to various types of signals, including those measuring pressure, vibration and electromagnetic waves. This will inspire sensing technologies in multiple fields, such as in relation to its use in brain-computer interfaces to enhance the sensing of brainwaves and neural signals, with tremendous application potential.

Prof. Wang Zuankai said, “Compared to traditional mechanoreceptors, our design excels in manufacturability, structural design flexibility, material versatility, geometric and performance control, and real-time underwater self-sensing. Leveraging gradients of porous materials and 3D printing technologies, we aspire to produce more nature-inspired metamaterial sensors with a range of materials, pore sizes and surface features that support potential applications in many fields.”

At the forefront of nature-inspired science and engineering research, Prof. Wang’s team has also invented various new materials, including lotus leaf-inspired self-cleaning surfaces capable of rapid water repellency, Araucaria leaves-inspired surfaces that enable self-propelled liquid transport, and anti-icing structures that achieve spontaneous ejection of freezing droplets by replicating the biological mechanism of spore shooting in fungi. He envisions that their research will open up new avenues for the development of nature-inspired materials.

“For natural porous materials, mechanical properties such as strength may not be the primary function, but rather a by-product of complex biomineralisation. Uncovering previously unknown mechanisms that lie beyond a material’s traditionally recognised function helps us to more comprehensively understand and fully utilise these natural resources. This is crucial for advancing biomimetic research,” he added.

This joint research was co-led by Prof. LU Jian from CityU, and Prof. YAN Chunze and Prof. SU Bin from HUST. The study findings have been published in the international journal Nature.

Hashtag: #PolyU #MarineEnvironment #NatureInspiredEngineering #SensingTechnology #DeepSeaTechnology #Brain-ComputerInterface #Nature #HongKong

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/05/polyu-research-unveils-mechanoelectrical-perception-in-sea-urchin-spines-empowering-next-generation-biomimetic-sensors/

Rhenus continues its expansion plans by opening a brand new warehouse in Paranaque, Philippines

Source: Media Outreach

This new addition reflects the company’s dedication to supporting the growing demands for logistics and warehousing services in the country
The warehouse is a part of strategic growth plans to significantly expand its warehousing footprint and service offering in the country

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Leading global logistics service provider Rhenus Group has officially opened a new warehouse in Philippines’ Paranaque, Metro Manila. This marks the company’s effort to expand its presence as a leading logistics player in the Philippines, with plans to add more warehousing space in the near future.

The warehouse is strategically located in NCR, close to major business districts and offers excellent access to major transport routes via direct access from SLEX Sucat. The brand new 7,320 sqm multi-user warehouse facility features a very high ceiling of around 20m with full insulation. It has the highest level of structural integrity and meets very high safety and security standards. Some of the features include Optical Beam Smoke Detectors, Sprinklers, mechanical cross ventilation system, fully enclosed gated compound, 24×7 security guards, full CCTV coverage with 60 days video retention, intruder alarm system, etc.

With a focus on sustainability, the warehouse utilizes LED lighting, solar panel provision, and a skylight to harness natural light, in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. The warehouse is in the process of obtaining ISO certifications in Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management Systems.

The new warehouse expands the footprint of seven existing facilities across Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, strengthening nationwide coverage and smooth integration with global supply chains.

“Rhenus offers 4 million m² of storage across 180 locations in 21 countries, providing tailored contract logistics solutions. The new warehouse will enhance our logistics network in the APAC region, enabling us to deliver more efficient and sustainable logistics operations for our customers. We are committed to optimizing supply chains and meeting diverse client needs,” said Marcus Fornell, Regional Head of Rhenus APAC Warehousing Solutions.

Rhenus in the Philippines

The freight and logistics market size in the Philippines is estimated at USD 16.20 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach USD 21.60 billion by 2031^{^[1]}.

“Rhenus Philippines will continue to strengthen our position further in the market. With the opening of this new warehouse, we are moving forward with our plan to continue to invest in modern and state-of-the-art facilities. This allows us to expand our footprint and product portfolio to serve our customers’ requirements with the highest level of efficiency, safety, security, and compliance,” said Deepak Sharma, Managing Director of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Philippines.

Rhenus Philippines has strong expertise in chemical warehousing, consumer goods, machinery and industrial logistics. Together with its freight forwarding entity, it offers a wide range of comprehensive services to customers, including warehousing and distribution solutions, domestic inter-island shipping, customs brokerage, project logistics, as well as air, ocean, and road freight.

More information on Rhenus Philippines is available at:

https://www.rhenus.group/ph/

Details of the new warehouse:

Address: Emilia St., San Isidro, Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Contact: +632 8424 8097

Hashtag: #Rhenus

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/05/rhenus-continues-its-expansion-plans-by-opening-a-brand-new-warehouse-in-paranaque-philippines/

Local News – Full steam ahead for Porirua streamside planting programme

Source: Porirua City Council

More than 100,000 plants will go in the ground in Porirua this year as the city’s streamside planting programme to restore Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour shows no sign of slowing down.

The streamside planting programme, which launched in 2022, is a transformational project to create thriving habitats and improve the water quality of Porirua’s waterways and, ultimately, the harbour. Council is working in partnership with Ngāti Toa and collaborating with the regional council, Mountains to Sea, community groups, and supporting thousands of students across schools to take up the cause.

In 2026, there is $900,000 in funding – half from Ministry for the Environment and half from Porirua City Council – to restore habitat along our waterways, including putting 108,000 plants in the ground between May and October. This funding also ensures the continued maintenance and health of our previous years’ plantings to guarantee long-term project success.

Planting will take place in Horokiwi, Pāuatahanui, Taupō swamp, eastern Porirua and Rangituhi.

Council’s Manager Urban Ecology, Daniela Baggio, says working with the community to care for nature and carry out planting is extremely satisfying.

“It’s going to be a busy winter for our Parks team and we are always looking to build on the previous years’ engagement,” she says.

“Schools and communities are really committed and engaged in the programme and I’m certain we will get willing volunteers out there, often on wet days, getting their hands in the ground as we look to improve the health of the harbour, which is one of our key priorities as a Council.”

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says planting around Porirua’s streams and waterways was a huge boost for the harbour.

“We know what planting is needed and we’re making a huge effort each winter to make this happen. Our ongoing commitment to catchment restoration is part of the Porirua Harbour Accord, which was signed just over a year ago, uniting key partners to restore the ecological, cultural and environmental integrity of this precious taonga for Porirua.”

Other key focus areas of the Accord include improving water quality, restoring biodiversity, integrating sustainable water management with urban development, and addressing climate change impacts. Signed on 6 February, 2025, it is an agreement between Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Wellington Water Ltd and other partners passionate about the harbour’s future.

Planting days and opportunities for the public to participate will be advertised on Council’s website and social media as they’re confirmed closer to May.

Streamside planting stats from 2025:

170,200 plants in the ground

1377 volunteer hours at three community days in Cannons Creek, Papakōwhai and Bothamley Park

53 schools (1564 students) attend 10 planting days

32.9 hectares of riparian and erosion prone land planted

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/05/local-news-full-steam-ahead-for-porirua-streamside-planting-programme/

Beaked whale found dead after initial refloat

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 05 March 2026

This statement can be attributed to Bec Rush, Mainland Auckland Operations Manager, DOC:

The Shepherd’s beaked whale that was refloated near St Heliers in Auckland on Tuesday 3 March was found deceased on the afternoon of Wednesday 4 March off Hobsonville.

It is unusual for a deep-water species of whale to be found close to shore – it’s often a sign it is injured or sick.

We have taken tissue samples for scientific analysis and are working alongside mana whenua to remove the remains from the current spot to a suitable burial site.

Thank you to everyone involved this week including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Paoa, Te Kawerau ā Maki, Project Jonah and Massey University, and the volunteers and public who have been a great support.

If you spot a stranded or entangled whale, dolphin or other sea animal, please immediately call the Department of Conservation emergency hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Species background

This statement can be attributed to Dave Lundquist, Senior Marine Science Advisor, DOC:

The Shepherd’s beaked whale is found only in the Southern Hemisphere, with most records in and around New Zealand.

They are one of 13 species of beaked whale known from New Zealand, a world biodiversity hotspot for the group.

They are unique amongst beaked whales in having functional teeth in both the upper and lower jaws.

The Shepherd’s beaked whale status in New Zealand is Data Deficient, as we do not know how many of these animals there are, nor whether that number is increasing or decreasing over time.

We have records of 38 Shepherd’s beaked whales stranding in New Zealand, as well as 11 sightings of groups of whales seen live at sea.

Strandings have occurred all around the country, from Cape Reinga out to the Chathams and down to Stewart Island, indicating they likely have a widespread distribution throughout New Zealand waters.

Most of the live sightings are associated with offshore underwater canyon systems, for example off Kaikoura and Otago, in relatively deep waters typically used by beaked whales.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/05/beaked-whale-found-dead-after-initial-refloat/

Forest and Bird granted leave to appeal part of Dome Valley landfill approval

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dome Valley. The Wireless / Luke McPake

Legal action over a controversial mega-dump in Auckland’s Dome Valley is continuing, with Forest and Bird granted leave to appeal part of the decision to approve the landfill.

Forest and Bird will appeal the Environment Court’s 2023 decision to allow the landfill to go ahead, focusing on river protections.

The proposed landfill is 80 hectares and would collect around half of Auckland’s annual waste – but about 12 kilometres of streams in the valley would be destroyed within its footprint.

Forest and Bird senior environmental lawyer May Downing said the case raises critical questions about how rivers are protected across the country.

“These aren’t just a river that’s nice to look at they’re essential habitat for indigenous fresh water species,” she said.

“The concern really is the normalisation of river loss when it’s something that should be stopped, not normalised especially for this type of development.”

Dome Valley is five kilometres from Warkworth and home to Hochstetter’s frogs, freshwater species, pekapeka-tou-roa long-tailed bats and diverse birdlife.

Downing said the landfill’s approval also raised questions about whether riparian planting elsewhere can really mitigate the loss of rivers destroyed by a landfill.

Timeline of events:

2021: Landfill given conditional approval by Auckland Council’s independent commissioner panel
2023: Environment Court provisionally granted consent after iwi and community groups appealed council’s decision
2024: High Court dismissed two appeals of Environment Court decision
2025: Forest and Bird asked for leave to appeal High Court decision, in Court of Appeal
2026: Court of Appeal grants leave in part for Forest and Bird to appeal

As part of the consenting process, developers can often offset the loss of a stream by agreeing to undertake stream protection work elsewhere – sometimes in different regions.

In this case, Waste Management proposed a general mitigation, offset and compensation package to address the stream loss, including riparian planting of up to 60km of streams elsewhere – likely in the Hoteo catchment of the Kaipara Harbour.

It alternatively offered to pay $10 million for these works to be done – these will be considered in the ongoing Environment Court process.

Forest and Bird’s appeal relates to the interpretation of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and whether it allows streams to be removed to make way for a landfill.

When Waste Management lodged plans for the dump, it was strongly opposed by iwi and community groups due to cultural and environmental concerns.

Waste Management has said the landfill was needed to cater for Auckland’s growth.

It opposed Forest and Bird’s application for leave to appeal the decision, as did interested parties Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia and Environ Holdings.

Auckland Council declined to comment on the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow an appeal in part.

A hearing date for the appeal is still to be confirmed.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/04/forest-and-bird-granted-leave-to-appeal-part-of-dome-valley-landfill-approval/

Environment – Drone Spraying of Glyphosate Over Endangered Species Habitat at Te Henga Goes Ahead Despite Environment Court Appeal

Source: Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa is expressing deep alarm following confirmation that aerial drone spraying of glyphosate based herbicides (GBHs) has proceeded over the nationally significant wetlands of Te Henga — despite a last-minute application to the Environment Court of New Zealand seeking to halt the operation.

The spraying, which is aimed at targeting willow, has taken place in habitat known to support critically endangered long-tailed bats and matuku (Australasian bittern), within one of West Auckland’s most ecologically sensitive wetland systems.

This is reportedly the second year of a three-year aerial campaign to control the willow trees in the wetland, and is being carried out by the private environmental group Matuku Link in the public conservation area. The local community has twice prevented aerial spraying in this area due to major ecological and health concerns – including a successfully high court injunction in 2010 against Auckland Regional Council.

“This is shocking,” said Asha Andersen, spokesperson for Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa. “We are talking about the aerial application of glyphosate — a highly controversial agrichemical — by drone, directly over waterways and wetlands of national significance, and within the habitat of some of Aotearoa’s most endangered species.”

According to information confirmed by the Weed Management Advisory, an application for an interim enforcement order was lodged with the Environment Court last week to immediately stop the spraying. Despite this, and many other questions around its legitimacy the operation went ahead.

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa says this raises serious questions about transparency, due process, social license and ecological risk.

“Conservation organisations should not be putting endangered species at risk,” Ms. Andersen said. “Their mandate is to protect biodiversity, not expose critically threatened wildlife to aerial pesticide applications in sensitive wetland habitats. When conservation work begins to mirror the very practices communities are concerned about, trust is eroded.”

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa understands that Auckland Council had previously suspended aspects of the consent process for this year’s spraying on advice from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. Yet aerial spraying with glyphosate has now reportedly resumed with more to come on Friday 6th March.

Glyphosate, widely known under the trade name Roundup, remains a subject of international debate regarding environmental and health impacts. Its aerial application over wetlands raises additional concerns about spray drift, contamination of waterways, and impacts on non-target species including people and properties.

Flora and Fauna of Aotearoa is calling for:

An immediate halt to all aerial pesticide spraying in the Te Henga wetlands while legal proceedings are underway.
Full public disclosure of the consent status and decision-making process.
An independent ecological review of impacts on endangered bats, bittern, and wetland ecosystems.
Genuine community consultation before any further willow treatment is undertaken.

“Public conservation land must be managed with the highest level of care and accountability,” Flora and Fauna’s Ms. Andersen said. “People deserve to know what is happening in their wetlands — and endangered wildlife deserve better than to be caught in the fallout of controversial chemical operations.”

The people of West Auckland have a long history of standing up for their environment. They deserve answers.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/04/environment-drone-spraying-of-glyphosate-over-endangered-species-habitat-at-te-henga-goes-ahead-despite-environment-court-appeal/

Pest eradication on Kawau Island resumes

Source: Auckland Council

After taking a break over summer, to avoid disruption to the busiest season for residents and visitors to Kawau Island, Auckland Council and our project partners are resuming the pest eradication programme on the island with operations commencing in March.

With our field camera network and drone survey data revealing that numbers of wallabies and possums are higher in the southern part of the island than previously anticipated, hunting efforts will be supported by the permitted use of toxins (1080 cereal bait and cut foliage treated with 1080 gel) from Monday 9 March.

This is dependent on the weather and ground conditions and will be undertaken in accordance with strict permit conditions.

Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island

Auckland Council has been working with Kawau Island landowners and residents to restore the extensive native forest on Kawau Island.

The presence of wallabies and possums means that the native forest cannot thrive as these introduced pests browse on seedlings and plants, destroying potential habitats and food sources for indigenous species.

After years of planning and preparation, the project began in early May 2025.

Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island, is a ground-based operation to remove wallabies and possums and is primarily being carried out by hunters using trained indicator dogs and thermal drones, supported using toxins (1080 and Feratox) in areas where the monitoring network has revealed higher numbers of wallabies and possums are present.

The next treatment area for the toxins is located on private land in the southern sector of the island (excludes residential areas and Public Conservation Land) and will be fenced and monitored.

You can read more on OurAuckland.

Important information

Safety is of utmost importance to us. Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island is underpinned by strict public health conditions from the National Public Health Service – Northern Region Auckland and robust health and safety precautions will be undertaken.
However, 1080 is a toxin that can be deadly to people and dogs. Small quantities of 1080 gel are lethal if eaten or swallowed.
Visitors and residents of Kawau Island must stay out of areas with toxic bait and avoid all contact with baits.
Anyone who consumes any of the toxic baits should call 111 immediately and contact the Poisons Centre for advice while waiting for emergency services.
Dogs are highly susceptible to 1080 poisoning if they consume baits or scavenge carcasses.
To keep dogs safe, visitors should avoid taking dogs to the island during the operational period.
Residents should keep dogs on a leash and closely supervised at all times, especially in the southern sector of the island. If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, induce vomiting and immediately go to a vet.
We have been working with Warkworth Vets, and the team are ready to treat any dogs brought in, if needed. Muzzles and emetic medication are available from Warkworth Vets for landowners and residents of Kawau Island, free of charge.
As per our permit conditions, there will be a six-month caution period. Uneaten foliage bait will be removed within 14 days of deployment, and soluble cereal bait will readily breakdown. However, secondary poisoning remains a risk for dogs during the six-month caution period.
Signage will remain during this time, and all residents and visitors to the island must follow all instructions from the council and its teams during this time.

For more information on the Kawau Island restoration project, including FAQs and further factsheets, please visit our website or phone us on 09 301 0101. To support this project and ongoing conservation efforts, visit New Zealand Nature Fund.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/04/pest-eradication-on-kawau-island-resumes/

Get outdoors. Hunt. Help nature.

Hunters and Nature: why managing wild deer, pigs, tahr, and goats takes more than one tool

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Hunting in Fiordland National Park. Photo: George Ledgard.

Hunting is part of New Zealand’s outdoor heritage. For many people, it’s how they were first introduced to the bush. Early starts, learning to read the land and weather, the thrill of the chase, spending time with friends and family, passing knowledge down through generations, and enjoying the harvest.

Hunting also offers something more. It’s a way to connect with nature, to understand the places we care about, and to play a part in protecting them for the future.

Seeing the forest up close

When you’re hunting, you see animal sign, hear birdsong, and notice where the good feed and habitat is, or isn’t. This is naturing. Many hunters can tell which areas are recovering, and which are under pressure from browsing wild animals like deer and goats. Hunters’ observations often match what monitoring shows: where browsing is high, the forest is less diverse and preferred plants struggle to regenerate; where deer numbers are lower, those same plants recover ^1–3. Hunters also see that reflected in the condition of the animals they harvest, animals are in better condition in when numbers are low.

That observation is one reason many hunters value healthy ecosystems and support conservation outcomes. Across the country, hunters already give back in practical ways by trapping predators, maintaining huts, reporting wild animal sightings, and contributing to local conservation projects.

For many, hunting is both recreation and stewardship.

On the left: healthy patē (schefflera digitata)

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On the right: patē browsed by wild deer in a different area of Pureora Forest Park

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The role hunters can play

Introduced wild animals such as deer, pigs, tahr, and goats are becoming more widespread and abundant across New Zealand. When numbers are high, they browse heavily on seedlings and understory plants. Over time, this can change forest structure and reduce the ability of native plants to regenerate and replenish the canopy. This then puts pressure on the habitats our native species depend on.

Recreational hunters help reduce numbers across many parts of the country. More than 7 million hectares of public conservation land is available for hunting, and hunter effort plays a part in managing wild animal numbers across this wider landscape.

But there’s an important reality to be clear about. Recreational hunting on its own isn’t enough to reduce animal numbers to levels that protect forest health in many areas. Research and expert commentary in New Zealand indicate relying on recreational hunting alone, without additional targeted control, often isn’t sufficient to reduce animals to low numbers that allow species preferred by introduced wild deer and goats to regenerate in our forests. It’s not a criticism of hunters. It reflects the scale of the ecological challenge.

In our own monitoring, sites with high deer numbers, like Ruahine Forest Park, show clear signs of browsing pressure on key plant species.

Why DOC needs to do intensive, targeted management

Some populations of introduced wild animals, particularly wild deer, are breeding faster than they’re being hunted. Current estimates suggest there are over 1 million wild deer in New Zealand. With a reproductive rate of around 20-30%, that means more than 300,000 new wild deer are added to the population each year.  It takes a coordinated effort to keep numbers at levels that protect forest health. In many areas, the annual offtake needed just to stop populations growing is beyond what recreational hunting can achieve on its own. That’s why collective, targeted work is needed in high priority places to make a difference.

Red deer. Photo: John Neilsen.

DOC focuses intensive management on around 1.4 million hectares of high-priority conservation land, where biodiversity values are highest. Including, about 1.2 million hectares where the aim is to reduce browsing pressure from wild goats at priority sites.

Healthy forests aren’t just about trees. They provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and other native species. Every plant and animal plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced and more resilient to changing conditions, including climate change. When introduced wild animals browse heavily, key plants struggle to survive, and the animals that depend on them are affected. Protecting biodiversity ensures these ecosystems can continue to function, thrive, and be enjoyed by future generations.

In these areas, the level of control needed is beyond what recreational hunting alone can usually achieve. That’s why New Zealand needs to use a mix of tools, selected to suit the location, terrain, and ecological values involved:

Professional ground hunting – trained teams targeting specific populations in specific areas

Aerial control – necessary in remote and rugged areas

Exclusion fencing – to protect sensitive ecological sites

Management hunts – community-led management hunting projects that contribute to the overall effort to manage animals

Commercial Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) – as part of wider management and a contribution to reducing numbers

Recreational hunting – as part of wider management and a contribution to reducing numbers

All of these tools are used together where and when they’re needed. No single approach will work everywhere.

We need to use a mosaic approach, applying different tools in different places in a coordinated manner. In some areas, sustained and intensive work is required over many years to reduce browsing pressure to levels that allow high priority forests to recover. In some locations, management may include fencing to protect sensitive ecological or land-use values by keeping animals out. In other areas, recreational hunting, or commercial recovery can contribute to reducing numbers across the wider landscape.

Animal exclosure plot in Ruahine Forest Park showing the effect of browsing. Photo: DOC.

DOC ranger hunting. Photo: Karl Drury

Working together for healthy forests

The message is straightforward: hunters are part of the solution and so is targeted DOC management. Protecting New Zealand’s landscapes requires a mix of approaches informed by monitoring and science. Many of DOC’s efforts also involve iwi and hapū, hunters, and local communities working together to get better outcomes for biodiversity.

For example, in Molesworth’s ecologically sensitive Turk’s Head area, we teamed up with volunteers from the Marlborough NZ Deerstalkers Association to give wild goat control a real lift. With us providing coordination, some helicopter support and ammunition, the wide-open country became the perfect place for recreational hunters to make a meaningful contribution. In just a few days, volunteers removed more than 1,000 goats, and our DOC team followed soon after also removing over 1000. Working side by side in the right terrain, this combined effort made a noticeable dent in goat numbers and is part of ongoing work aiming to ease pressure on the rare plants and fragile landscapes that make Molesworth so special.

Lake McRae, Turk’s Head, Molesworth. Photo: DOC.

Get outdoors. Go hunting. Make sure you have a permit. Enjoy the places you care about and be part of looking after them, so nature and everything that depends on it can thrive. And if every hunter knocks over just a few extra animals while they’re out, maybe one for the freezer and one for the forest, it can help reduce numbers across the wider landscape.

References

1. Nugent, G., Forsyth, D. M., Smith-Flueck, J.-A. M. & Latham, A. D. M. Non-Native Deer: Origins, Status, Impacts, and Management. in Deer of the World: Ecology, Conservation and Management (eds Melletti, M. & Focardi, S.) 887–912 (Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2025). doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17756-9_60.

2. Tanentzap, A. J. et al. Landscape‐level vegetation recovery from herbivory: progress after four decades of invasive red deer control. (2009).

3. Nugent, G., Fraser, W. & Sweetapple, P. Top down or bottom up? Comparing the impacts of introduced arboreal possums and ‘terrestrial’ ruminants on native forests in New Zealand. Biological Conservation 99, 65–79 (2001).

4. Allen, K. et al. Long‐term exclusion of invasive ungulates alters tree recruitment and functional traits but not total forest carbon. Ecological Applications 33, e2836 (2023).

5. Latham, A. D. M. & Nugent, G. Introduction, impacts, and management of non-native deer and other hunted ungulates in New Zealand. Journal of Japan Deer Studies 2017, 41–57 (2017).

6. Fraser, W. The Effect of Recreational Hunters on Deer Populations in Pureora Conservation Park. Science for Conservation 38 (1996).

7. Nugent, G. & Choquenot, D. Comparing cost-effectiveness of commercial harvesting, state-funded culling, and recreational deer hunting in New Zealand. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32, 481–492 (2004).

8. Fraser, K. W. Status and Conservation Role of Recreational Hunting on Conservation Land.

9. Forsyth, D. M., Allen, R. B., Marburg, A. E., MacKenzie, D. I. & Douglas, M. J. Population dynamics and resource use of red deer after release from harvesting in New Zealand. New Zealand journal of ecology 277–287 (2010).

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/04/hunters-and-nature-why-managing-wild-deer-pigs-tahr-and-goats-takes-more-than-one-tool/