Department of Conservation – Great Barrier Island News

A lone Norway Rat on Motutapu Island has been tracked, and is believed to have been successfully eliminated by conservation teams (file photo). Photo / DOC / Rod Morris - Creative Commons

Environment & Ecology

Motutapu’s Rat Problem: Finally Solved (at a Cost)

A lone rat caught on camera on the otherwise pest-free paradise of Motutapu Island has been killed after months of running amok, in a sting costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. The island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf is directly behind Rangitoto…

Community News

Pest-Free Panic: Rat Hunt Intensifies on Motutapu

The quest to capture a crafty rat from the pest-free shores of Motutapu has escalated, as conservation teams pull out all stops with the approaching nesting season. The unwelcome visitor was first spotted by a sharp-eyed DOC ranger in late…

Abandoned and Overgrown: A home in Akapoua, under DoC's stewardship, stands neglected while awaiting a stalled treaty settlement. Photo / Will Trafford

Community News

Disarray and Denial: The Uncertain Future of DoC on Aotea

Residents and DoC insiders are questioning the Department of Conservation's commitment to Aotea. They point to empty, decaying houses and shuttered tracks as signs of neglect. Additionally, there are doubts about whether the department has sufficient funding and a clear…