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Media Releases

  1. The naming of cats

    Fans of the musical [Cats] will know that the naming of cats is a difficult matter, and that cats have three different names. The same is true of cats in New Zealand – there are three types: companion or pet cats that live with people and rely on them for their welfare, stray cats that may rely only...

  2. LiDAR reveals real risk to wetlands

    For the first time in New Zealand, research has shown how remote sensing, using LiDAR, could aid improved conservation management of wetlands through better drain detection.

  3. Ancient diets revealed by kākāpō scats

    Researchers have just published the most comprehensive analysis of prehistoric kākāpō diet ever performed.

  4. Historic newspaper articles shine new light on the near-extinction of kākāpo

    Kākāpō, the world’s only flightless parrot, once ranged throughout the forests of Aotearoa New Zealand. However, early European observers noted the bird population declining rapidly within their own lifetimes and speculated this was due to packs of feral European dogs and other mammal predators.

  5. Concern for pōhutukawa grows following widespread myrtle rust infection

    Myrtle rust infections have been found on pōhutukawa trees in Auckland at unprecedented levels this summer. This season is also the first the disease has been reported on Auckland’s iconic Rangitoto Island.

  6. What’s going on with the birds in your garden?

    The State of New Zealand Garden Birds | Te āhua o ngā manu o te kāri i Aotearoa 2022, a report released today by Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, shows the latest results from New Zealand’s longest-running citizen science project – the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey. 

  7. Do native birds have enough to eat in mountain forests?

    In Aotearoa New Zealand, native forest bird species are under threat from introduced mammal predators such as possums, rats and stoats. Currently, these predators are common particularly at low elevation, but rare at higher elevations. As a result, the ranges of many native forest bird species have ...

  8. Ngāi Tahu Farming working with research organisations to validate the science of regenerative farming

    On 26 October 2022, Ngāi Tahu Farming signed an agreement with Manaaki Whenua and other research organisations to provide data and insights for Te Whenua Hou Te Whenua Whitiora (The New Land, The New Horizon) regenerative farming trial.

  9. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research and Predator Free Rakiura collaborating on a world-first predator eradication project

    A significant partnership agreement has been signed between Manaaki Whenua and Predator Free Rakiura to work together towards ridding Rakiura/Stewart Island of all major predators - possums, rats, feral cats and hedgehogs.

  10. Manaaki Whenua and Microsoft collaborate on environmental research initiative

    New initiative to develop improved detection of land use and forest cover change. These are important elements in the assessment of carbon stored in New Zealand forests and improved mapping will help inform decisions and policies for a more sustainable Aotearoa.