Last week, the Minister for Resource Management Reform, Chris Bishop, announced that the government would be intervening, yet again, to prevent councils from progressing environmental protections under the Resource Management Act (RMA). Legislation will prohibit the notification of any new changes to regional policy statements and regional and district plans....
The aim of this programme is to encourage best practice in caring for regional heritage sites and places through community involvement. The grant value is up to $50,000, to support projects that aim to achieve at least one of the following outcomes: regulations and policies in the Auckland Unitary Plan...
The Kākāpō Recovery team have reported that breeding for this critically endangered bird will return in 2026. Kākāpō are the world’s only flightless nocturnal parrot. There are just 242 alive today. The breeding populations are found only on three very remote, rugged predator-free islands in the deep south: Whenua Hou/Codfish...
Work has started today on the temporary roof repairs to the Leys Institute Library. These repairs will keep the building watertight until the full restoration takes place. It’s great to see some positive action and care now being taken of these precious heritage buildings. Updates to follow!
An Ultimately Positive Outcome The High Court ruled the Environment Court’s decision to allow the demolition of 22 Crescent Road, Epsom should not be taken as precedent. Justice Muir, whose retirement was announced with “thanks [for his] outstanding contribution to the judiciary and to the administration of justice” by the...
On 17 June, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga issued the following statement on the Gordon Wilson and McLean Flats: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is deeply disappointed by the impending decision to demolish Wellington’s Gordon Wilson and McLean Flats, two buildings of significant heritage value that have long been part...
A record 277 hihi (stitchbirds) fledged on Tiritiri Matangi Island this breeding season. Earlier this month, 40 hihi were relocated to the Auckland Council managed Shakespear Open Sanctuary. They join Shakespear’s small but thriving population translocated in 2024. There is a total population of only around 2000 hihi nationwide. Te...
Auckland Council received the Independent Hearings Panel recommendations on PC78 (Intensification) for the city centre on 8 May 2025. Council’s decision on the recommendations was made on 22 May. They accepted all the panel’s recommendations on submissions on PC78 as they relate to the city centre. All these provisions became operative...
Greenpeace and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition have reported that a New Zealand bottom trawling vessel, fishing in the Chatham Rise off the South Island’s east coast, has pulled up 6,000 kg of protected stony coral in a single trawl. Stony corals are a protected species under the New Zealand...
John Cheah, council project manager, has advised that the resource consent application is working its way through council processes. Following a break-in several months ago, the rear door and courtyard door have been boarded up. Now the only access to the library is via the front door. The grounds have...