Most people have only ever seen one moon – our own. But this month, we are going to look at how to use technology to find and observe the four largest moons of Jupiter (Galilean Moons) – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. June is the best...... Read More

It’s planting time again. Volunteers at the SOSSI nursery have once again raised thousands of seedlings and a truckload more has arrived from the Botanic Gardens, so we have 15,000 waiting to get their roots down. Upcoming public planting days...... Read More

It is often said that grandparenting is one of life’s greatest joys. Certainly, listening to my 16-year-old grandson muse about his life dreams and plans during a long, cross country walk in the Kaipara was very special for me. He was constructing...... Read More

It’s planting season. Each year we give the plants grown in the Tāwharanui nursery new homes in the ground around the park. By far the largest number are planted during public planting days. This year, public planting days will see the planting...... Read More

Hihi, or stitchbirds, were once believed to be widespread throughout the North Island and northern offshore islands. By 1885, the only remaining population was on Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Hauturu. Andreas Reischek, a noted and avid collector of species for European...... Read More

A casual discussion with a local winegrower, while sampling his wines over summer, made me realise just how seriously the primary sector takes the risks of climate change. Globally, it is now apparent that a clear majority of nations accept the reality...... Read More

New Zealand is one of the most urbanised countries in the world. This means there are many hundreds of thousands of people who have never lived on a farm or grown up with farm animals. They have missed the foundational pleasures of roaming over wide open...... Read More

Once you have started exploring the night sky, you begin to realise that your backyard is not always the best place to easily view some of the night wonders. Although you can view the Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae globular clusters with binoculars,...... Read More

There is an army of beneficial insects—spiders, bumble bees, dragonflies, hoverflies, wasps, ladybirds, praying mantis, beetles, earwigs and honey bees just waiting to help us manage pests, pollinate crops, and recycle waste and debris. All they...... Read More

The cruise ship industry looks like luxury and glamour – exotic destinations, as much food as you can eat, entertainment, socialisation and romance on the high seas. But, like everything, there’s a high price to pay and not just in the pocket....... Read More