Environment

The Government has created a super-ministry to handle cities, housing and the environment. The new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport will absorb the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Transport, and local government functions from Internal Affairs. Legislation passed this week clears

The Government has unveiled a $1.2 billion loan scheme to help thousands of New Zealand businesses move away from dwindling natural gas supplies while protecting local jobs. The Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme will see the Crown guarantee 80% of each supported loan, enabling banks to offer lower interest

A young New Zealand sea lion pup has been killed after being struck by a vehicle on a Catlins coastal road, prompting the Department of Conservation to urge drivers to watch for marine mammals. The five-month-old male sea lion was found dead on Hinahina Road near the Catlins Boating Club

Environment Southland has detected toxic algae in the Upukerora River at Te Anau Milford Highway, prompting a health warning for water users. The regional council's monitoring team discovered the harmful algae during routine observations. Officials warn that similar algae growth may be occurring in other waterways across Southland.

A new sausage bait designed to target stoats has shown impressive results in field trials, offering hope for protecting kiwi and other native wildlife. The Department of Conservation has been working with pest control developer Connovation for nine years to develop a ready-made bait containing the toxin PAPP (para-aminopropiophenone), which

Science Minister Penny Simmonds will open the second annual Sustainable Solutions Symposium in Rotorua on Thursday, focusing on turning waste into valuable products. The event, hosted by the Bioresource Processing Alliance (BPA), brings together researchers, industry leaders, government agencies, start-ups and students to explore solutions to environmental challenges through circular

The southern New Zealand dotterel population has surged by 52 percent following a successful aerial predator control operation on Stewart Island. The annual bird count at Southland beaches last week revealed the dotterel population has grown from 105 in April last year to an estimated 160 - the biggest annual

A new Emergency Management plan for Southland has unearthed an unnerving detail about warning systems in the event of a tsunami. This week, Southland's civil defence emergency management group adopted its plan for the next five years - a 106-page document which will now be sent to the