Cameras on commercial fishing vessels

The government has just announced it will roll out cameras on commercial fishing vessels, with 300 boats fitted with cameras by the end of 2024. Studies show that cameras increase compliance and stop illegal dumping and underreporting. Commercial fishing is one of the greatest threats to the ocean, and every...

Continue reading

Pest Free Auckland

Pest Free Auckland focuses on the suppression of pest animals, pest plants (environmental weeds), pathogens and marine pests to create a secure environment for wildlife to thrive. Clear your backyard of pest plants, particularly moth plant, yellow/kahili ginger and climbing asparagus. Identify and find tips on the best way to...

Continue reading

End single-use, return to reuse

Greenpeace has a petition calling on the government to ban single-use disposable food and drink serviceware containing plastic and mandate co-designed, accessible, reusable alternatives instead. This is things like single-use disposable takeaway coffee cups and lids, food containers, cutlery, and single-serve sauce and condiment sachets and pottles. Extracting natural resources...

Continue reading

Global plastic crisis

Plastic is everywhere, and almost everything we buy these days comes in plastic. We expect our plastic waste to be recycled, but in New Zealand, plastic waste is often exported to developing countries where it is likely to be illegally burned or just dumped, harming the health of local communities....

Continue reading

Six of the best walks for bird-spotting

In Auckland’s regional parks, you can spot some of Aotearoa’s rarest and most beautiful birds. 1. Tāwharanui Ecology Path Follow the Ecology Path to find rare takahē and tieke/saddlebacks, as well as kaka and pāteke/brown teal. 2. Rotoroa Island North and South Paths Spot takahē, weka, tieke/saddlebacks and pāteke/brown teal....

Continue reading

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. This year’s Earth Day theme is Invest in our Planet. Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org including 1 billion...

Continue reading

New high-density housing rules

Auckland Council has opened public consultation on changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan as part of implementing central government’s new requirements for greater housing density across the city. Aucklanders can have their say from Tuesday 19 April to Monday 9 May 2022 and view draft planning maps showing where greater...

Continue reading

Shortland Flats turning 100

The current owners and curators of Shortland Flats are working on a range of celebrations to mark the occasion of 100 years of providing accommodation services to people living in Auckland’s city centre. In particular, they are looking to connect with former residents, gathering some of the anecdotal stories and...

Continue reading

Paul Baragwanath – Heritage Hero

Civic Trust Auckland made a presentation on 24 March to Paul Baragwanath, the Chair of Friends of St David’s Trust, to recognise his work in saving St David’s Church in Khyber Pass. It took place inside the church, with Allan and Hamish presenting a certificate to Paul, which reads: “Civic...

Continue reading