Environment

Environment headlines with summaries.

• Auckland Zoo opens new habitat for orangutans and siamangs

  New Zealand Auckland Region

  1 Jul 2020

  

  The enclousure is phase one of the zoo's new $60m South East Asia Jungle Track.

  Auckland Zoo opens new habitat for orangutans and siamangs

• After rumoured sightings, rare NZ long-tailed bat heard in Masterton

  life and society

  30 Jun 2020

  

  After many years of rumoured sightings in regions, a rare long-tailed bat has been heard for the first time in Masterton. Audio

  After rumoured sightings, rare NZ long-tailed bat heard in Masterton

• Annual Garden Bird Survey takes off around NZ

  environment

  29 Jun 2020

  

  New Zealanders with an eagle eye took to their gardens for the Annual Garden Bird Survey over the weekend. Audio

  Annual Garden Bird Survey takes off around NZ

• Conservation Board to resume meetings after rift with Ngāi Tahu

  New Zealand Local Democracy Reporting

  18 Jun 2020

  

  The West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board will hold its first formal meeting this year after a months-long stand-off with Poutini Ngāi Tahu.

  West Coast Conservation Board to resume meetings after rift with Ngāi Tahu

• Changes to fishing restrictions in key dolphin habitats

  New Zealand

  24 Jun 2020

  

  The government is beefing up fishing restrictions in key dolphin habitats as part of a plan to protect endangered Māui and Hector's dolphins.

  Fishing restrictions boosted to protect Māui and Hector's dolphins

• Arctic Circle sees scorching 38C day, may be region's all-time high

  World climate

  23 Jun 2020

  

  The Arctic is believed to be warming twice as fast as the global average.

  Arctic Circle sees scorching 38C day, may be region's all-time high

• Auckland water shortage: Extra 200m litres from Waikato River 'absolutely essential'

  New Zealand

  22 Jun 2020

  

  Auckland Council is urging the government to fast track its request to take an extra 200 million litres of water a day from the Waikato River.

  Auckland water shortage: Extra 200m litres from Waikato River 'absolutely essential'

• Antarctic lost sea ice twice the size of Spain - research

  New Zealand climate

  21 Jun 2020

  

  Part of the Antarctic has lost more than one million square kilometres of sea ice over the past five years, new research shows.

  Antarctic lost sea ice twice the size of Spain in five years, researchers say

• Rare protected falcon shot dead in Gisborne

  New Zealand East Coast

  20 Jun 2020

  

  The Department of Conservation is investigating after a kārearea was shot dead in central Gisborne.

  Rare protected falcon shot dead in Gisborne

• How NZ became the world's albatross capital

  New Zealand Otago

  19 Jun 2020

  

  The world's only mainland royal albatross breeding colony, in Otago, came about because of the threat of war, but the birds now face their own existential threat. Video

  World Albatross Day: How NZ became the world's albatross capital

• West Coast council opposes air quality changes over coal heating

  New Zealand Local Democracy Reporting

  12 Jun 2020

  

  West Coast communities who rely on coal to heat their homes will suffer if tougher government rules for air quality go ahead, the regional council says.

  West Coast Regional Council opposes air quality changes over coal heating

• Couple on a mission picked up 1280kg of rubbish during lockdown

  Local Democracy Reporting

  11 Jun 2020

  

  Kawerau residents on a mission to clean up the town they love walked the streets during lockdown, collecting everything from fridges to used nappies.

  Couple on a mission picked up 1280kg of rubbish during lockdown