Ecology – Aotea Green – Page 3 – Great Barrier Island News

Extinct Duck’s DNA Reveals Epic Flight to New Zealand

Photo / Boston Public Library / Unsplash By Nic Rawlence, University of Otago and Alexander Verry, University of Otago Ask a bird lover if they have heard of the extinct giant moa or its ancient predator, Haast’s eagle, and the…

Insects are packing up for autumn – how we can help them through the cold

Buzz Off, Summer: NZ’s Insects Are Autumn-Bound, and Your Garden’s Their Haven. Photo / Andy Murray By Janice Lord, University of Otago and Connal McLean, Te Papa Tongarewa Chillier mornings and higher heating bills aren’t the only signs of the…

Lost at Sea The Kermadec Sanctuary’s Missed Economic Opportunity

Sir John Key's ambitious vision for a sweeping ocean sanctuary enveloping the Kermadec Islands has been definitively quashed, as the coalition government ceases all efforts toward its legislation. Unveiled in 2015 by the then-Prime Minister amidst widespread global applause, the…

8 ways that stopping overfishing will promote biodiversity and help address climate change

By Rashid Sumaila, University of British Columbia Amid the escalating threats of a warming world, and with the latest annual United Nations global climate conference (COP28) behind us, there is one critical message that’s often left out of the climate…

The main Antipodes Island. Photo / Claire Concannon / RNZ

Subantarctic Islands’ Wildlife Thrives After Million Dollar Mouse Project

These subantarctic islands are wild and remote – some 860km southeast of Rakiura Stewart Island. Their isolation, in a far-flung corner of the South Pacific, means they’re some of the most untouched islands in the world.

Hauraki Gulf from Rangitoto Island. Photo / Mike Locke / CC

DOC Ramps Up Patrols to Enforce Dog Bans on Pest-Free Hauraki Gulf Islands

Department of Conservation (DOC) officials are stepping up patrols in response to an increase in reports of dogs on the pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf. The action aims to enforce regulations designed to protect the unique environments of the…

Looking out towards the rock at Pah Beach on Aotea, Great Barrier Island.

2024 a Make-or-Break Year for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park

By Alex Rogers On one of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park this summer, lots of small snapper washed up dead. A friend who has witnessed the decline of the health of the Gulf over many decades filleted one…

Red-Eared Slider Turtles: A Menace to Aotea’s Biodiversity

Female Red-Eared Slider Turtles are usually a little larger than males. Photo / Rod Morris, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (1986) Red-eared slider turtles have become a concerning pest on Aotea Great Barrier Island, posing a significant threat to our precious…

Snapper in Hauraki Gulf found with milky white flesh syndrome

A fish affected by milky white flesh syndrome showing a skinny tail. Photo / NIWA / Rikki Taylor NIWA has been called in to investigate evidence of snapper in the Hauraki Gulf suffering from milky white flesh syndrome. The Ministry for Primary…