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.

The owner of the beach in Abel Tasman National Park which has been the focus of a crowd funding campaign is pleased with all the local interest.

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.

Forest and Bird said drone footage released today showed dead and dying native trees across Northland.

The critically-endangered Maui dolphin has topped a list of New Zealand's 10 "rarest of the rare" endangered species.

More than 20 hectares of conservation land will be swallowed up by the controversial Ruataniwha dam project, but DoC says a land-swap deal will mean a net gain for conservation.

New Zealanders are being called upon to help save our national icon by reporting kiwi sightings to conservationists.

The Conservation Minister says $226,000 will be spent on three kiwi projects aimed at helping Kiwi thrive in the wild.

Anti-1080 campaigners are accusing DOC of putting busloads of young military trainees at risk by allowing them into Coromandel parkland during a pest-eradication operation.

Two of New Zealand's most renowned marine scientists have argued for more "no-take" marine reserves, where fishing of any kind is banned.

A DOC investigation is underway following allegations of kea being shot at a forestry site in Nelson.

Since 2009 DoC staffing has been slashed by 323. Funding cuts continue, writes Brian Rudman. In the last Budget, operational funding was cut by $8.7 million and natural heritage management by $7 million.

Volunteers who spent decades restoring Motutapu are devastated and angry that hunters mistakenly shot four of their takahe "friends" on the island.

The people involved in the shooting of four critically endangered takahe are "very, very upset", the president of the Deerstalkers' Association says.