Conservation

Scientists are again taking to the waters around Stewart Island in search of the much maligned white shark.

After a tough start to life, six yellow-eyed penguins will head back to the wild today.

Swapping stoats for mongooses, a Doc pest-control specialist has winged his way to Hawaii to help locals with pest eradication efforts.

While avian diphtheria hit some Otago Peninsula populations of yellow-eyed penguins hard, overall the breeding season on Otago's coast has been very positive, the Department of Conservation says.

Unless our clean green image is reinforced by stronger conservation efforts, New Zealand risks being outcompeted by other attractive tourist destinations such as Norway, leading environmental scientist Emeritus Prof Sir Alan Mark warns.

Up to 40 threatened mohua, or yellowhead, have been transferred to pest-free Pomona Island in Lake Manapouri in an effort to establish another viable population.

A new approach to helping save one of New Zealand's unique species has been launched - a community-owned species management plan.

The future is looking dire for the Antarctic's Ross Sea Adelie penguin population if predicted temperature increases from climate change occur within the next 40 years.

An injured female kaka from the Eglinton Valley, in Milford Sound, has arrived at Orokonui Ecosanctuary and it is hoped she will provide much-needed "wild" genes for the newly established population.

After an assisted hatching on Sunday morning, the latest brown kiwi chick to hatch at the Queenstown Kiwi Birdlife Park is showing all the signs of growing into a healthy young chick.

Staff from the Department of Conservation and Southern Discoveries spent more than a week camping in Sinbad Gully, at the base of Mitre Peak, playing recorded kiwi calls, to ensure the safety of a pair of breeding kiwi before their release this week.

Three helicopters spent about five hours spraying invasive weed plants growing in the Sinclair Wetlands and the southern end of Lake Waihola until bad weather prevented them carrying on, Lake Waihola-Waipori Wetlands Society chairman David Vollweiler said.

The 25th anniversary of the Queenstown Kiwi Birdlife Park drew more than 80 community and bird-park stalwarts to celebrate the achievements of staff and the founding Wilson family on Wednesday night.

A kereru (wood pigeon) was released by Project Kereru members at Flagstaff yesterday.

With designer housing and gourmet salmon meals delivered by a personal chef twice a day, a group of lucky yellow-eyed penguins probably have their peers green-eyed with envy.