More than $20 million in funding, 720,000ha of land: today is D-Day for the biggest pest control operation in New Zealand's history.

A leading climate scientist has welcomed a new 20-year Government "roadmap" that singles out climate change as an environmental research priority for New Zealand.

A series of tweets and shares helped co-ordinate an operation to get a small island in the Hauraki Gulf for a ranger who needed to get to his grandmother's funeral.

A record breeding season for New Zealand and the world's population of lovable but critically endangered kakapo has seen their numbers shoot up by an amazing 28 per cent to 157 individuals.

Eruptions, lahars, faster and better facilities, a catastrophic diesel spill and a devastating arson - it's been a hectic 30 years

Awaroa Beach has become part of the Abel Tasman National Park after 40,000 Kiwis raised the money to buy it.

A sperm whale has been spotted in the Hauraki Gulf - a rare sighting for boaties. Rob Pine, a wildlife photographer from Auckland

DOC had to shoot a fur seal pup after someone put it on the back of a motorbike while skylarking on the Hokitika beach

Two dramatic videos have been released showing how Northland's forests are collapsing due to chronic underfunding of the Department of Conservation and lack of pest control.

The Department of Conservation is seeking those responsible for using a chainsaw to hack out a dead sperm whale's jawbone.

Searchers looking just north of Hokitika for one of the rarest vertebrate animals in the country have struck gold.

When Awaroa beach campaigner Duane Major visited the piece of paradise bought by New Zealanders for the first time since the purchase, he paused in disbelief.

Three kiwi chicks have arrived at their new home as part of an effort to save a rare species of our national bird.

A pristine, remote landing site in Fiordland National Park is about to have its daily limit of helicopter landings soar.

The Department of Conservation will be hitting Punakaiki beach after reports of people using "kontikis" in the marine reserve.

The Government may lose its unanimous support in Parliament for much-touted marine sanctuary.

Those who pledged money to buy an Abel Tasman beach for New Zealanders are fulfilling their commitments.

People using beach in 'opportunistic way' will have to pay for the privilege, says Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

Gareth Morgan has offered to help buy Abel Tasman Beach but he wants exclusive rights for his family.

Taxpayer money should be put up to help buy an idyllic, privately owned beach at the top of the South Island, Labour says.

A crowdfunding campaign to keep a pristine South Island beach in public ownership has broken the $1 million mark.

An idyllic, privately-owned beach will be added to the Abel Tasman National Park if a Givealittle campaign to purchase the land succeeds.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) has been granted Department of Conservation approval to continue operating the Whakapapa Ski field on Mt Ruapehu.

The loss of our native birds from the wild has been revealed in its full extent for the first time, with a stock-take showing major hits for most endemic species.

The Conservation Minister says a new partnership should help protect native birds and threatened wetlands in one of NZ's most famous national parks.

Trying to identify which deerstalkers fired the fatal shots and dragging them off for a show trial is hardly the point, writes Brian Rudman. DoC was entrusted with the safety of the critically endangered birds, and it was DoC who invited the shooters in.

Four Kiwi fishermen have been singled out for their efforts to stop seabirds being killed as bycatch while out on the water.

A major 1080 poison offensive succeeded in wiping out 95 per cent of rats and 85 per cent of stoats in targeted forests around the country.

It's the ultimate tool for the very laziest of armchair travellers of New Zealand - a 3D-view of some of the country's most famous tramping tracks.

2300 possums have been culled this year on the Otago Peninsula.