Environment & Ecology

A three-year ban on commercial and recreational crayfish (spiny rock lobster) fishing in the inner Hauraki Gulf will come into effect on April 1st, 2025, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has confirmed. The move is aimed at rebuilding the…

In mid-May, Waiheke Island will become the first urban area in Auckland where kiwi have been released. 10 kiwi will be transferred from neighbouring Pōnui Island to Te Matuku Peninsula at the eastern end of Te Motu-ārai-roa/Waiheke Island. Save the…

A new community-focused native plant nursery is preparing to open its gates in Medlands this April, offering eco-sourced, locally grown plants for a wide range of planting projects. The Motu Community Nursery is the continuation of a native nursery initiative…

International media and scientific organisations are lapping up footage of a real life ‘Sharktopus’ filmed in the Hauraki Gulf. Marine biologist Professor Rochelle Constantine said the encounter in December 2023 was a tale to top them all. In a post…

Plans to install a set of short-stay moorings in the Caulerpa-affected waters of Great Barrier Island have been scrapped, after the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board voted unanimously to abandon the project at its March meeting. Initially framed as…

Great Barrier Island has once again captured international attention, earning a spot on Lonely Planet’s latest travel guide, 15 of the World’s Best Adventures to Have at Night. The island was credited for its pristine environment and remarkable stargazing conditions,…

Photo / Sid Ware / Ministry for Primary Industries

Conservation group LegaSea is raising concerns over a proposal by Fisheries New Zealand to increase commercial crayfish catch limits in the CRA 2 region (including Aotea). This proposal covers the northeast coast of New Zealand from Te Arai Point to…

A rare piece of good news has emerged in New Zealand’s fight against the invasive exotic Caulerpa: the pest seaweed, which has plagued parts of Aotea, Great Barrier Island, the Hauraki Gulf and beyond. Sources have reported exclusively to AoteaGBI.news…