environment – 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…

Looking Down at Port Fitzroy Great Barrier Island. Photo / DoC

Environment & Ecology

Community-Led Boat Wash Facility Proposed for Barrier

Auckland Council is proposing a community-led boat wash facility for Aotea to address the growing threat of invasive marine pests and the economic devastation caused by their spread. The facility aims to provide a safe and convenient location for boat…

Miner's Head: Remnants of Great Barrier Island's first copper mine, a glimpse into the island's industrial past. Photo / LawrieM / CC

Environment & Ecology

Ministry Declines to Confirm or Deny Fast-Track Mining Applications on Great Barrier Island

Miner’s Head: Remnants of Great Barrier Island’s first copper mine, a glimpse into the island’s industrial past. Photo / LawrieM / CC The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has refused to confirm or deny whether fast-track mining applications have been…

Snapper showing signs of Milky White Flesh Syndrome, a condition linked to climate change and food scarcity in the Hauraki Gulf. Photo / Fishing NZ

Environment & Ecology

Climate Change to Blame for Malnourished Snapper – NIWA

Fisheries New Zealand has pinpointed a combination of climate-related factors as the likely cause of Milky White Flesh Syndrome in snapper, according to a new report. Skinny snapper with mushy, white flesh instead of the usual firm and translucent texture…

Sun-Drenched Serenity: Medlands Beach on the East Coast of Great Barrier Island. Photo / AoteaGBI.news

Environment & Ecology

Great Barrier Island: A Weather Wonderland of Contrasts

It’s no secret to residents of Aotea, Great Barrier Island, that our weather can be a bit… dramatic. From torrential downpours to scorching sunshine, the island seems to experience a whole spectrum of conditions. But now, thanks to data from…

This bright-green invasive caulerpa seaweed is smothering the delicate marine ecosystem on Great Barrier Island. Photo / Glenn Edney

Environment & Ecology

Caulerpa Found in Leigh, Raises Concerns Over Spread from Great Barrier Island

Has Caulerpa's arrival in Leigh confirmed the fears of marine biologists, previously dismissed by MPI in their report on the controversial Aotea crayfishing permits?

Crayfish pots aboard the Crusader. Photo / Toitū Fishing NZ

Environment & Ecology

MPI Justifies Controversial Crayfishing Permits, Accepts Consultation Failures

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has defended its controversial decision to permit commercial fishing within Controlled Area Notice (CAN) regions on Aotea Great Barrier Island, where locals and recreational fishermen have been banned for years. Despite MPI defending the…

Des Casey's "Nature's Future Our Future" encourages readers to reconnect with the natural world and take action to protect it. Photo / DesCasey.com

Environment & Ecology

Former Aotea DoC ranger Pens Book on Conservation

Former Department of Conservation (DoC) worker Des Casey, who spent five years on Great Barrier Island and participated in numerous community-led environmental initiatives, has penned a book about conservation. Titled ‘Nature’s Future Our Future,’ Casey says the book is a…

Previous seminars highlighted storytelling from authors, artists, and environmentalists with deep connections to the island. Photo / SIBI

Community News

Global Reach for Small Island Big Ideas in 2024

Previous seminars highlighted storytelling from authors, artists, and environmentalists with deep connections to the island. Photo / SIBI Small Island Big Ideas (SIBI) is set to return with an expanded vision for 2024, aiming to look beyond local horizons to…

Sea Law Ruling: NZ, Others Must Cut Emissions to Protect Small Island Nations

Nanumea island, Tuvalu. Photo / TCAP/UNDP / CC By Karen Scott, University of Canterbury In a significant development for small island nations threatened by rising seas, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has found greenhouse gases…