Auckland Biodiversity

27/10/2026

🌿 Looking for a conservation group near you?

Our Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau Conservation Map shows community-led conservation groups and larger landscape-scale initiatives across Auckland.

🗺️ To find groups on the map:
Select the green Map Layers button (top-right corner, second from the left)
Select the ‘Conservation Community’ layer
Use the drop-down arrow to choose local or landscape-scale groups

👀 With so many groups across the region, we recommend viewing both layers, one at a time.

📝 Run a group or initiative? Fill in our form to be added to the map and the Auckland Conservation Directory.

👇 Links to the map and directory in the comments.

26/10/2026

South Auckland’s high-flying residents have become more productive than ever, increasing their presence in Franklin.

A record 346 native bats (pekapeka) have been found as part of this year’s study - that’s more than double last season’s total, thanks to community efforts and Franklin Local Board’s investment in the Finding Franklin Bats programme.

Franklin Local Board chair, Alan Cole is pleased with the latest update on bats.

And the work is far from over. Over the next two seasons, bat experts with the community will continue acoustic monitoring, harp trapping and roost surveys across all four colonies, while investigating the bats’ preferred roost trees. Pūriri and macrocarpa have already been confirmed as favourites.

Predator control efforts will expand to Kingseat, Paerātā and Waitangi Falls, helping create safer habitats for bats and other native wildlife.

If you spot a furry flying mammal or fancy learning how to zoom in on them – send out the bat signal via [email protected], facebook.com/FindingFranklinBats or Instagram.

Read the full story on OurAcuckland 🔗https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2026/10/franklin-s-bat-population-soars/

Learn how you can help protect pekapeka-tou-roa (long-tailed bats) and improve their habitat.

25/10/2026

Forest & Bird's Pest Free Hibiscus Coast recently spoke to RNZs podcast about their experiences using the DOC AI Thermal Camera in their community.

Installed at a reserve bordering Shakespear Regional Park, this is the country's largest network of AI cameras.

The NZ made devices are powered by solar or old e-scooter batteries. They capture videos of animals in the bush on infra-red technology and feedback the information to the users' phones, identifying the animals.

Read and listen on RNZ 🔗https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/environment/2044455/the-kiwi-ai-tech-saving-our-native-bush-from-pests

Pest Free Hibiscus Coast Project is community based project supported by:
Auckland Council
Hibiscus And Bays Local Board

Image credit: Predator Free New Zealand Trust

23/10/2026

Department of Conservation is calling on the public (especially West Aucklanders) to find two alleged offenders.

On Monday 19 October around midday, a kororā/little penguin nest at North Piha was deliberately disturbed. One chick was found dead and another is missing.

A witness saw two people involved:
a woman in a red and black checkered top and bottoms
a man in a yellow jacket

If you were at North Piha or nearby that day and saw anything, or can help identify the people involved, please contact DOC:
Phone 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468), quoting reference CLE-12944
Email [email protected]

Please tag Department of Conservation in any questions on this post.

21/10/2026

Tawaka / Poplar Mushroom🍄🍃

Tawaka is a native, wood-loving mushroom that can be found on dead and living trees. Tawaka is definitely a summer loving mushroom that is more abundant in warmer months of the year! It's also an edible (however, fungi can be difficult to identify, so never eat wild mushrooms unless you are absolutely certain of their identification) 🍄

Although mushrooms may seem to appear overnight, they're just the visible part of a much larger organism hidden from view. Beneath the bark and soil, fungi form vast networks that support healthy forest ecosystems.

19/10/2026

Tānekaha trees (also known as celery pine) showing signs of decline have been identified in a number of reserves, including Chatswood Reserve, Fernhill Escarpment, Kauri Glen Reserve, Le Roys Bush and Eskdale Reserve.

Our staff are ramping up monitoring efforts to better understand the decline and dieback of tānekaha trees in these North Shore reserves.

We are asking park users to follow good hygiene practices, including staying on marked tracks and keeping dogs on designated paths, to help protect these areas while assessments continue.

🔗Read the full story - link in the comments ⬇️ below

If you see a tānekaha tree that looks to be sick or dying, you can report it on the Auckland Council website.

16/10/2026

Not all heroes wear feathers🐝

🌞October is one of the busiest months for Auckland's pollinators also known as bees! These busy bees are helping native plants reproduce seeds and fruits across region!

🐝Did you know that Aotearoa has 28 native species of bees? The photo on the right is commonly known as a "masked bees" that appears black in colour. Just like most native bees, they're not big travellers and must have flowers close by!

🐝Did you know that the famous bumble bee is actually introduced to Aotearoa? The bumble bee (photo on the left) was introduced to New Zealand to help pollinate red clover and can pollinate 450 flowers in one hour!

13/10/2026

Hull yeah, summer's coming! ☀️⛵

Haul-out spaces and marine contractors get booked up fast once the weather warms up, so now's the time to sort your hull clean and antifouling.

Marine growth doesn't just build up on the hull. It can also be found on propellers, shafts, seawater intakes and around the keel! Get ahead, and don't be the reason a new pest moves into the bay. 🚫

Not to mention that a clean hull and a well-maintained antifouling coating help your boat run better and save fuel. Heading to another region? Check the local biofouling rules before you go.

Tips, rules and haul-out facilities 👉 marinepests.nz

12/10/2026

Fungi are fun-guys! 🍄
During summer, fungi are hard at work beneath our feet.

Most of a fungus is hidden underground as a network of fine threads called mycelium. These networks help break down dead wood, recycle nutrients, and support healthy ecosystems. The mushrooms we see are just the fruiting bodies, appearing when conditions are right.

Keep an eye out after spring rain and you might spot: 👂 Hakeke (Wood Ear) growing on fallen logs! 🪵