Department of Conservation - Te Tai Tokerau

Department of Conservation - Te Tai Tokerau Northern North Island is the Department of Conservation's northern most region and here to serve Te Tai Tokerau communities. Be nice.

We're here to serve the Far North community. DOC's social media community rules apply: http://www.doc.govt.nz/news/social-media/community-rules/

Friday mood: ruffled, frazzled, but hanging in there. 🦉Take a cue from nature and recharge this weekend. Happy Friday, N...
10/09/2026

Friday mood: ruffled, frazzled, but hanging in there. 🦉
Take a cue from nature and recharge this weekend. Happy Friday, Northland! 🌿☀️

Another day in the office. 🌊🥾Our rangers are lucky to work in some of Tai Tokerau's most spectacular places, helping to ...
08/09/2026

Another day in the office. 🌊🥾

Our rangers are lucky to work in some of Tai Tokerau's most spectacular places, helping to protect the wildlife, landscapes and experiences we all enjoy.

Next time you're out naturing on the coast, why not bring a bag and pick up any rubbish you come across? Small actions can make a big difference for nature. 💚

🌼 Kua kitea nga tohu o te kōanga I Te Tai Tokerau | The signs of spring are appearing in Te Tai Tokerau. 🌼Listen closel...
31/08/2026

🌼 Kua kitea nga tohu o te kōanga I Te Tai Tokerau | The signs of spring are appearing in Te Tai Tokerau. 🌼

Listen closely.

Can you hear the call of the pīpīwharauroa (shining cuckoo)?

For generations, the arrival of this small migratory bird shown in the photos below has signalled the beginning of kōanga (spring). After spending winter in the tropics, the pīpīwharauroa returns to Aotearoa each year, bringing a message of renewal, growth and warmer days ahead.

In Māori tradition, the arrival of the pīpīwharauroa also marked the beginning of the season for digging and planting crops, a time to prepare the soil and cultivate the kūmara that would sustain communities in the months ahead.

There is also a remarkable story connected to this tiny traveller. Some traditions associate the migratory journey of the pīpīwharauroa with the curiosity and observations that guided Polynesian exploration across te moana nui a kiwa. To hear its call click the link in the comment below ⬇️.

On the ground, another sign of kōanga is impossible to miss. Kōwhai trees will soon burst into brilliant yellow flower, providing a feast for tūī, bellbirds and other native birds. Their blossoms tell us nature is awakening and many species are beginning their breeding season.

Look up after sunset and you'll see the night sky changing too. Māori carefully observed the stars and their relationship with what was happening on the land and sea, using these signs to guide seasonal activities and understand the rhythms of the natural world.

As the natural world comes alive, there are simple ways we can all help:

🌱 Keep dogs under control around nesting wildlife
🌱 Give native birds space while they breed and raise young
🌱 Plant native species to provide food and habitat
🌱 Control pest plants and animals where you can
🌱 Stick to tracks and avoid disturbing habitats
🌱 Keep cats indoors at night

Kōanga reminds us everything is connected: the stars above, the birds returning from distant islands, the flowering of the kōwhai, and the life emerging across Te Tai Tokerau.

What signs of spring have you noticed in your part of Northland?

The Predator Free New Zealand Trust is hitting the road, bringing people together for a series of happy hours across the...
27/08/2026

The Predator Free New Zealand Trust is hitting the road, bringing people together for a series of happy hours across the country.

Join us for an evening of short presentations, good conversation and kai. It’s a chance to reflect on how far the movement has come, swap ideas and experiences and look ahead to how we can best support each other in the years ahead.

Come hear Predator Free Whangārei discuss project updates, milestones and innovations. The Predator Free New Zealand Trust will also share the latest on national momentum and the growing support for the Predator Free 2050 mission.

Come along, have a yarn and share a drink with others in the movement. 🥂

Register with the link in the comment below ⬇️

26/08/2026

Haere mai, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi! Welcome to Te Tai Tokerau!

That's the name given to this bird, one of up to 20 kōkako from Tāmaki Makaurau's Hūnua Ranges being translocated to Waipoua Forest to help strengthen the north's declining population.

Local iwi Te Roroa has driven this important conservation project. Their long-term commitment to restoring the forests and taonga species of their rohe has made this translocation possible.

Once widespread across the north, kōkako numbers have fallen sharply in recent years. These new birds will help boost genetic diversity and increase breeding opportunities, giving Northland's kōkako a better chance of recovery.

It's also a conservation story that has come full circle. Decades ago, translocations helped save the Hūnua kōkako population from the brink. Today, descendants of those birds are helping support their northern relatives.

Ngā mihi to Te Roroa, Auckland Council, mana whenua, volunteers, and all partners involved in helping these remarkable manu find a new home.

💙 Together, we're giving kōkako a stronger future in Te Tai Tokerau.

Three fishers have each been fined $600 after being caught fishing inside the Reotahi section of the Whangārei Harbour M...
24/08/2026

Three fishers have each been fined $600 after being caught fishing inside the Reotahi section of the Whangārei Harbour Marine Reserve 🎣 🚫.

During a routine patrol on 12 June 2026, a DOC Compliance Officer observed a vessel inside the marine reserve with all three occupants actively fishing. The vessel's location was confirmed using GPS coordinates, and the fishers later admitted they had been fishing within the protected area.

Between them, they caught one snapper from inside the marine reserve.

The fishers were cooperative, accepted responsibility, and each paid a $600 infringement notice.

Marine reserves are areas where fishing and the taking of marine life are prohibited. They help protect marine habitats and provide a safe haven for fish and other marine species.

Heading out fishing? Know before you cast.

✅ Check marine reserve boundaries before you leave the boat ramp.
✅ Use up-to-date charts, apps and chart plotters.
✅ Look for marine reserve signs and markers.
✅ Know the rules for the area you're fishing in.
✅ If you're unsure, check before you drop a line.

Most fishers do the right thing, but knowing where you are is your responsibility. A quick check before heading out can help protect our marine environment and save you from an expensive mistake.

Find out more about marine reserves and protected areas on the DOC website.

See the link to a media release in the comment below ⬇️

🐢 A rare hawksbill turtle is recovering thanks to an incredible team effort by Team Turtle 🐢Recently, members of Te Haum...
23/08/2026

🐢 A rare hawksbill turtle is recovering thanks to an incredible team effort by Team Turtle 🐢

Recently, members of Te Haumihi - Ngāti Kuri discovered a stranded hawksbill turtle along Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē and quickly contacted DOC. From there, a coordinated response from Team Turtle sprang into action.

The turtle's journey continued with an Air New Zealand flight from Kerikeri Airport to Auckland, where it was taken to Auckland Zoo for assessment. Upon arrival, veterinarians discovered it had a dangerously low body temperature, requiring immediate specialist care.

At Auckland Zoo, vets carried out a full health check, including blood tests, fluid therapy and careful warming to help stabilise the turtle. Once its condition improved, the team gradually introduced nutritional support before moving it into a swim tank, where it soon became bright, active and even started eating squid on its own.

Now showing encouraging signs of recovery, the turtle has been transferred to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium for the next stage of its rehabilitation.

☎️ If you find a stranded sea turtle:

✅ Call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) immediately
✅ Keep your distance and minimise disturbance
✅ Take a photo if it's safe to do so
✅ Record the location or GPS coordinates

❌ Do not attempt to return the turtle to the water

A huge thank you to Te Haumihi - Ngāti Kuri Auckland Zoo, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, Air New Zealand, and everyone involved in this successful rescue.

📸 Swipe through to follow the journey: from its discovery by Te Haumihi - Ngāti Kuri during a beach clean-up, to its flight south for treatment at Auckland Zoo, and finally its transfer to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium to continue rehabilitation.

13/08/2026

The tara iti is our most endangered endemic bird breeding in Aotearoa. Tara iti, or fairy tern, nest on beaches and sandspits in Northland and Auckland. They make small nests, called scrapes, in shell patches 🐚.

This week, local Tai Tokerau hapū Patuharakeke, DOC staff from Tāmaki Makaurau and Whangārei, and volunteers from the Waipū About Tern group came together to prepare two nesting locations for the coming breeding season.

We moved excess shells from one site to another, added sand, collected and placed shells used by tara iti, and removed weeds that attract competing birds and predators. The work was all about creating an appealing and comfortable home for tara iti 💚.

It was a fantastic day of mahi in the 🌞 for one very special native species. A big thank you to all our partners! 🙏

Donate now to help tara iti continue to recover: https://nznaturefund.org/projects/tara-iti/

Tara iti clips: © Darren Markin

13/08/2026

The elusive matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) is one of New Zealand's most threatened birds, but they can be hard to spot thanks to their amazing wetland camouflage.

We're investigating whether power lines are putting Northland bittern at risk ⚡. If you find an injured or dead bittern and think a power line collision may have been the cause, please let DOC know. Report it to 0800 DOC HOT 📞.

And if you're lucky enough to spot one 👀, record your sighting with Northland Regional Council or the Love Bittern Project. Your observations can help protect this Critically Threatened species 🙏.

31/07/2026

🐦 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🐦

NZ Garden Bird Survey starts today and continues through next Sunday (5 July)!

👍 Can you spare an hour to contribute to this nationwide citizen science project?

It's easy to take part:
https://gardenbirdsurvey.nz/

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