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Welcome to New Zealands Plant Portal. DOC News 6 to 12 August 2007
What's Up @ DOC? Department of Conservation

Recent additions to the Department of Conservation website

What's Up DOC?
Recent additions to the Department of Conservation website

What's Up DOC?

Recent additions to the Department of Conservation website

Consultations

Consultation park proposal for Two Thumb Range
A new park is proposed for mid-Canterbury that brings 11 pieces of conservation land together into one management unit across the Two Thumb Range.

Wanganui Conservation Management Strategy review update
Get an update on the Wanganui Conservation Management Strategy review.

Conservation

Blue cod tagging in Po-hatu Marine Reserve
DOC is undertaking a blue cod tagging project, and needs your help to find out the movement patterns and growth rates of blue cod in the Po-hatu Marine Reserve area.

Arawai Kakariki wetland restoration programme
This project aims to enhance the ecological restoration of three of NZ’s foremost wetland/freshwater sites: Whangamarino, O Tu Wharekai and Waituna Lagoon/Awarua.

Parks and recreation

Bay of Plenty

Okere Falls Scenic Reserve
This reserve has significant Maori cultural and spiritual value. It features the waterfalls of the Kaituna River and is the site of NZ’s first hydro-electic power station.

Lower Kaituna Wildlife Management Reserve
At Kaituna, near Te Puke, cabbage trees and flaxes are flourishing, pukeko prowl, numerous ducks, shags and pied stilts forage for food in the waterways.

Bay of Plenty Conservation Awards
Nominations are called for the 2008 Conservation Awards for the Bay of Plenty Conservancy.

East Coast/Hawke’s Bay

Sunrise Track
The track to Sunrise Hut is one of the most popular walks in Eastern Ruahine Forest Park and is well suited to family and school groups.

Ridge Track
A demanding track suitable for fit walkers. The tramp will take you 2 hours and leads between the Nikau Loop and Mangakawa tracks.

Kaweka Road tramping tacks
From Kaweka Road you can access Makahu Saddle via Whittle Road. The saddle is a popular starting point for tramping excursions into the backcountry.

Tokenui to Te Waiti Route
This route leads through the middle of the Urutawa Conservation Area. As it is rough and gorgy in places it is recommended for experienced trampers only.

West Coast

Minnehaha Walk
Suitable for wheelchairs, this delightful walk near Fox Glacier township in South Westland follows a stream through the rainforest.

Canterbury

Canterbury alerts
Read the latest notices about DOC-managed Canterbury places: Ball Shelter, Cave Stream Scenic Reserve and parts of Godley Head are closed and Kura Tawhiti (Castle Hill) car park is being developed.

Mountain biking in Craigieburn Forest Park
Find out about mountain bike trails in Craigieburn Forest Park.

Twizel River Trail
This trail, near Twizel township, offers wonderful views of the Mackenzie Basin mountains.

Ohau Moraines Wetland Complex
This vast area of red tussocklands, wetlands, rolling moraines and outwash flats is one of the largest wetland areas to be protected in recent years.

Otago

Jacks Blowhole Track
This is a good walk to one of the Catlins’ longstanding attractions, the often spectacular Jacks Blowhole.

Motatapu Track
The Motatapu Track is a new demanding alpine tramp for experienced parties. It follows much of an historic route linking the Wanaka and Arrowtown areas.

Publications

Conservation revealed
View a comprehensive collection of detailed and interesting information sheets for students, teachers, tourism operators and enthusiasts. Topics include: native plants and animals, pests, biodiversity, marine life, geology, National Parks and regional sites of interest.

Science and technical publications
View the most recent list of DOC science and technical publications.

Heritage appreciation and conservation at Denniston
Denniston is a collection of historic settlement, mining and transport sites on and immediately below the coal plateau, east of Westport.

Orchids of the Chatham Islands
A report on the indigenous orchids of the Chatham Islands.

Olearia (small-leaved tree daisy) factsheets
Factsheets to help you recognise the small-leaved tree daisy species and take an interest in their welfare.

Draft report: Seabird interactions with trawl nets, MIT2006/02
Draft report into the interaction between seabirds and trawl nets.

Nugget Point visitor survey 2007 report
Report on opinions on the condition of facilities at Nugget Point, which are considered to be under growing pressure from increasing visitor numbers.

Rimutaka Forest Park booked huts
Five huts in the Orongorongo Valley, Rimutaka Forest Park, are available for exclusive hire. Bookings are essential.

News

Flora Hut to stay
Flora Hut in Kahurangi National Park is to be retained because of strong community support for the hut particularly as an easily-accessed backcountry hut to take young children to.

Chatham Island snipe returned to Pitt
One of NZ’s least-known rare birds is making a comeback. Twenty Chatham Island snipe were released on Pitt Island.

Kaimanawa horses seeking homes
Kaimanawa wild horses are once again available to the public with DOC’s annual muster.

Awarua Wetlands recognised for size and diversity
The newly renamed Awarua Wetlands in Southland has raised the bar for wetland restoration and expansion.

Increased signs of volcanic activity at Mt Ruapehu
DOC advises those considering visiting the summit area of Mt Ruapehu that there may be an increased chance of eruptions from Crater Lake.

Appointment of Guardians of Lakes
Dr Chris Shaw and Dr Sue Bennett have been appointed as Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai and Te Anau.

Raoul Island diary
Read the latest diary entry about what it's like to live and work on Raoul Island from some of the DOC workers stationed there.

Hakatere Conservation Park expands
This park will grow by 17,000 hectares with the addition of land from the Mt Potts and Redcliffe high country pastoral leases.

Important restoration project for Resolution Island
19th century conservationist Richard Henry will soon have his dream realised when work starts on the removal of all stoats from Resolution Island in Fiordland National Park.

Pukaha ferrets captured
One of two ferrets caught in the Pukaha Mount Bruce forest over the long weekend is thought to be responsible for the deaths of four kiwi there.

Major boost for Pukaha visitor centre upgrade
A planned upgrade of the Pukaha Mount Bruce visitor centre has received a major boost with a grant of $300,000 by Trust House Charitable Trust.

Costs could be cut by backcountry hut plan
DOC and the Department of Building and Housing are working on a plan to cut red tape for backcountry hut building consents.

Chatham petrel chicks returned to Chatham Island
Chatham Islanders celebrated the first return of an endangered bird species.

Motuihe rat no match for Jack the rodent dog
Jack, a specially trained rodent detection dog, was the star of the rat catching operation on Motuihe Island after he sniffed his way to a female Norway rat soon after his arrival.

Whitehead come home to Motuora
Whitehead or popokatea, a small endemic bird, were yesterday returned to Motuora Island in the Hauraki Gulf for the first time in around 120 years.

Australia and NZ affirm close relationship on whale conservation
NZ and Australia will continue to work together to lead the global debate on the conservation of whales.

Kakapo chicks relocate to maximise survival
Seven kakapo chicks that hatched on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) have been transferred to specialised facilities in Nelson to ensure their survival.

Historic Mesopotamia land protected for the future
The tenure review of South Canterbury’s historic Mesopotamia station has been finalised under a tenure review agreement.

 



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Department of Conservation | Head Office | PO Box 10-420 | Wellington | New Zealand | Telephone +64 4 471 0726 | Fax +64 4 471 3049