The spread of the kauri dieback pathogen has created pressure on communities to do more to save the iconic tree species from relegation to isolated sanctuaries. There are only hard choices. Auckland Council has taken the brave decision to back up the...... Read More

For the last 20 years we’ve been learning how to recycle. We’ve developed social norms that have seen recycling become acceptable practice rather than just throwing everything to landfill.  Sometimes our desire to do the right thing and...... Read More

Twenty-four New Zealand dotterel chicks fledged this season at Tawharanui, the most since the Sanctuary was established 16 years ago. Although the chick numbers are highest, the adult:chick ratio was lowered due to the fact that the pair numbers increased...... Read More

When our old cat died and wasn’t replaced, the birds returned to our garden. This included a pukeko clan. I’ve loved them ever since. I admire pukekos’ attitude – their  courage – and that they considered my garden part...... Read More

Volunteering at Shakespear Open Sanctuary always goes quiet over the summer break, but the throng of visitors escaping the heat more than made up for it. Some days, Te Haruhi bay looked as busy as a beach in the South of France. The birdlife has been...... Read More

The best way to celebrate summer is to go to the beach. We’re lucky in Rodney and the wider Auckland region to have some of the best beaches and coastal areas in the country. The water’s warm, and the beaches are sandy, tree-lined, sheltered...... Read More

Kauri dieback disease has pushed our forests to a tipping point and what we do now will determine their fate. To lose kauri means losing the whole forest ecosystem because it is a keystone species upon which 17 other species depend. The fact that we...... Read More

The takahe are doing well at Tawharanui Regional Park and providing support for the national takahe recovery group, together with lots of interest for park users. To date, we have 14 adult birds on the park and one chick. Last year’s chick was...... Read More

My Christmas escape plan will help you to cultivate wonder in the natural world. If your Christmas includes the luxury of lying back in the hammock in a shady part of your garden with a book, here are some ideas. Even if the reading will only take place...... Read More

Here in Rodney, the natural world provides signals that tell us that summer is on its way – for example, cabbage trees in full flower abuzz with bees, pohutukawa in bud (in some places already breaking out in flower), garden and bush birds actively...... Read More