A vital step towards better protecting indigenous freshwater fish was taken with today’s introduction of a new indigenous fish conservation bill in Parliament. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill amends the Conservation Act 1987 to provide a much-needed “modern toolbox” to help indigenous freshwater fish. “Our indigenous freshwater fish are in trouble. New Zealand has 54 indigenous freshwater fish species and 22 of these are threatened with extinction. Whitebait, freshwater and lamprey fisheries have...

A new report shows serious concerns remain for the continued existence of the native Canterbury mudfish, which is on the brink of extinction. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage released the New Zealand Threat Classification System report on freshwater fish today. The report provides the latest conservation status of New Zealand’s 76 known freshwater fish species. “Canterbury mudfish remain in the Threatened – Nationally Critical category, and continue to decline,” Eugenie Sage said. “Much of the Canterbury mudfish habitat is on private...

The Government is supporting a project to make Wellington the world’s first predator free capital city with a $3.27 million funding boost announced by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today. Capital Kiwi Project (a charitable trust) and Predator Free Wellington, a joint venture between Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and NEXT Foundation are jointly working to create a predator free Wellington which the Predator Free 2050 Limited funding will support. “This work will help native plants and wildlife thrive...

More than half the new appointments to Conservation Boards announced by Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today are women. Eugenie Sage announced 57 appointments to the 15 Conservation Boards across New Zealand. “Conservation Boards are the link between DOC and the community. They help ensure their region’s voice is heard on conservation issues,” Eugenie Sage said. “These appointments bring the number of women on the boards to 52 per cent and 41 per cent identify as Maori. “I am thrilled to...

The home of a giant native grasshopper is now safer after Crown land in the Mackenzie Basin was protected as conservation land, Land Information and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. “The triangle-shaped 440 ha area known as the “Tekapo Triangle” is home to the largest known population of robust grasshopper (Brachaspis robustus), a species which is only found in New Zealand’s Mackenzie Basin,” Eugenie Sage said. “The robust grasshopper is a Mackenzie Basin icon. Protecting the Tekapo Triangle will...

A block of South Canterbury land rich with native plants that existed before human habitation will be preserved after the Nature Heritage Fund purchased it. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage today announced the formal protection of 19 hectares of uncultivated land, 5 kilometres north east of Geraldine, purchased from the Ellery family who have owned the site since 1886. The family offered the land to the Fund for purchase after it was declared a significant natural area under the RMA, because...

The new Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Board chairperson and deputy were announced by Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage today. The new chairperson is Julie Hardaker and her deputy is Steven Tipene Wilson. The EPA board is responsible for the EPA’s governance. The EPA makes decisions for and regulates hazardous substances and new organisms as well as specified marine activities in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It also provides administrative support for the decision-making on major infrastructure and called in projects...

Local government leadership is crucial to turn around New Zealand’s approach to waste, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage says. Today at its AGM and conference Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) voted to support several proposals to tackle recycling and waste problems, including calling for strong Government leadership. “I welcome local government's support and leadership on the pressing issue of waste reduction.  Work is underway in the Ministry for the Environment in the areas identified by LGNZ,” Eugenie Sage said. “Since...

New information confirms work is needed to ensure there are good standards and clear information for consumers about biodegradable and compostable plastics, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage says. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton published an online guide on biodegradable and compostable plastics yesterday. “It’s very hard for families and businesses to make choices that are good for the environment when some products don’t do what they say,” Eugenie Sage said. “This guide is a valuable resource for...

The Government is backing a Hawke’s Bay Regional Council plan to make Mahia Peninsula possum free with a $1.62 million funding injection announced by Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage today. The Predator Free Hawke’s Bay Project builds on two existing projects and expands predator control work onto the Mahia Peninsula. “The community wants to create a possum-free Mahia, and at the same time will control feral cats, stoats and ferrets,” Eugenie Sage said. “The Government is contributing $1.62 million through a...