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An important habitat for New Zealand’s only know population of critically endangered blue whale is now at risk from destructive seabed mining after an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) ruling today. 

The kea has been crowned New Zealand’s Bird of the Year after two weeks of heated campaigning.

29 September 2017

Rt. Hon. Bill English
Leader, National Party

Jacinda Adern MP
Leader, Labour Party

Rt. Hon. Winston Peters
Leader, New Zealand First Party

James Shaw MP
Co Leader, Green Party

As the mining industry meets in Christchurch, Forest & Bird warns that emissions resulting from potential new coal mines on the Buller plateau would equate to increasing New Zealand’s annual emissions by 10%.

A scorecard developed by supporters of the Freshwater Rescue Plan shows big differences between the seven main political parties on fresh water in the lead-up to the election. 

Forest & Bird is calling today’s takeover of the country’s largest coal mine by BT Mining a terrible deal for taxpayers and the environment.

Forest & Bird says it’s unacceptable that gold prospecting is taking place on conservation land that is habitat for highly endangered Archey’s frogs.

Forest & Bird is lodging an appeal on the Environmental Protection Authority’s controversial decision to allow seabed mining in the habitat of critically endangered blue whales.

The spread of kauri dieback disease is a national crisis caused by the Ministry for Primary Industry's (MPI's) shambolic failure to manage the biosecurity threat, says Forest & Bird.

Forest & Bird is seeking an assurance that no public money will be spent considering illegal options to flood specially protected conservation land.

Hundreds of penguins, including endangered hoiho/yellow-eyed penguin, are dying in fishing set nets each year.

Russell Bell has been honoured with Forest & Bird’s Old Blue award for his significant role in many of the most important conservation projects in and around the Hutt Valley over the last 40 years.

Forest & Bird says evidence of corporate welfare and dirty deals is mounting up as the Government’s sale of Stockton coal mine progresses.

The campaign for better water quality is continuing to gather support, with organisations representing half a million members and supporters now backing the recently launched Freshwater Rescue Plan.

The Supreme Court has ruled that New Zealand's publicly owned Forest Parks and other conservation land are safe from being disposed of for private development interests.

Forest & Bird is calling for a bolder vision for the West Coast in response to new plans to smooth the way for more of the same ‘boom and bust’ industries.

Documents released to Forest & Bird under the Official Information Act show the Government has been working to circumvent environmental protections and public involvement to enable new coal mining on conservation land.

Forest & Bird says New Zealand’s sea lions are in serious trouble, but the Sea Lion Threat Management Plan released today does not address the fishing industry’s deadly impact on the species.

In a significant victory for New Zealand’s coastal wildlife, the High Court has backed a landmark 2016 Environment Court finding that Regional Councils can protect their marine environment using the RMA.

Protecting yellow-eyed penguins, advocating for marine reserves and restoring native bush are all in a day’s work for Forest & Bird’s South Otago branch, which has received the organisation’s new annual Branch Award.

Forest & Bird has awarded the outgoing Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment an ‘Old Blue’ for her significant contribution to New Zealand’s environment and wildlife.

Forest & Bird has awarded Glenys Mather of West Auckland the prestigious Old Blue for nearly 20 years’ service to the Waitakere branch and especially for inspiring new generations of conservationists in the Kiwi Conservation Club.

Forest & Bird has awarded Central Hawke’s Bay its new annual Branch Award for its outstanding conservation and advocacy work, especially its staunch defence of nature in the face of plans to develop the environmentally damaging Ruataniwha dam and ir

Wanda Tate has been awarded Forest & Bird’s prestigious Old Blue in recognition of quarter of a century of work at the Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve near Porirua, culminating this year in the return of rare fernbirds to the wetlands reserve.

Margaret and Malcolm McPherson of Timaru have been awarded Forest & Bird’s prestigious Old Blue for four decades of exceptional service to the organisation and to conservation in South Canterbury.

Bay of Plenty man Bill Kerrison has been awarded one of Forest & Bird’s highest honours, the Old Blue, for his work to save millions of longfin eels on the region’s rivers.

Forest & Bird has named Hillcrest teenager Oscar Thomas as winner of its 2017 Youth Award following an eventful year in which the 17-year-old plotted the successful campaign for the kōkako in the Bird of the Year contest.

Leaders from major tourism, science, health, recreation and environmental organisations are coming together to launch an unprecedented plan for solving the country’s freshwater crisis.

Forest & Bird is calling on the Ministry of Primary Industries to set a zero bycatch target for seabird deaths after official figures revealed an estimated 1000 albatross, petrels, and shearwaters were killed by surface longline fishing boats during

Forest & Bird says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE’s) report on native birds makes clear that New Zealand’s environment is in crisis, with four out of every five native birds heading for extinction.

Forest & Bird recognises that mangroves are an indigenous species with high biodiversity value.

Forest & Bird has released a series of maps showing that the majority of New Zealand’s rivers and streams will not be covered by any swimmability standard, under the Government’s proposed new water quality measures.

Five years ago the Board developed the first strategic plan for Forest & Bird. Last year the Board updated the strategic plan. In both plans we have had the goal of growing and strengthening our finances, membership and organisation.

The Kōkako has been crowned New Zealand's Bird of the Year after two weeks of close competition and heated campaigning.

Best known for its deep organ-like call, the Kōkako is a large slate-grey bird with blue wattles.

By Stella McQueen*

A version of this story first appeared in Forest & Bird magazine in Spring 2016.

Not all “environmentally friendly” packaging is created equal, as Toby Whyte, managing director of Health Pak, one of our supporters, explains.