The wife of the hunter who killed school teacher Rosemary Ives has made an impassioned plea for the public not to judge him, but says he will accept a prison term if one is imposed.

There would be plenty of mana in customary marine title without the power to exclude the public from sacred sand.

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.

Possums, rats and stoats have something new to fear after the Government and the Green Party today announced $4 million in funding to trial self-resetting traps.

Spooky tunnels and historic weapons keep young and old entertained at Auckland's North Head, writes Jim Eagles.

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

Department of Conservation staff attempting to free a humpback whale tangled in ropes in Doubtless Bay in the Far North have called off the operation for the night.

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.