The fatal shooting of Lower Hutt teacher Rosemary Ives was one of three dangerous night hunting incidents over Labour Weekend.

Anger is growing among hunters over the accidental shooting of a tramper as she was brushing her teeth.

Watch out for the sea lions when you're on the Auckland Islands, warns Jim Eagles.

The possible connection between undersea noise and mass whale strandings in New Zealand deserves more attention, say marine scientists.

Among the 24 state sector CEOs whose performance over the year had been reviewed, six were paid more, five were paid less and 13 stayed the same.

Poor conditions may prevent the rescue of a second whale entangled in rope today.

DOC staff are investigating reports of another 12-15 metre humpback whale caught in rope and plastic in the Far North.

A large humpback whale which was tangled in rope off the Far North coast has been freed this afternoon.

DOC staff will attempt to remove ropes around a whale in Doubtless Bay - if they can find it.

DoC was forced to end the misery of seven whales that re-beached themselves at Rarawa Bay.

More than half of the 24 whales being refloated in the Far North this evening have made it into the water, but three have died.

Volunteers last night comforted stranded whales that had been moved from a Far North beach to a nearby stream.

The killing of 14 endangered weka by a dog on Kawau Island has prompted the Department of Conservation to introduce DNA testing.