New Zealand Government pushes overhaul of freshwater rules

  From New Zealand Press (30/5/2025) A proposed shake-up of freshwater rules is drawing support from farmers and alarm from environmental advocates. On Thursday, the Government proposed overhauling several regulatory frameworks spanning housing, infrastructure and the environment. The proposals, alongside alternative options, are out for public consultation. Among them is a major rewrite of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), which guides how regional councils manage and protect rivers, lakes, and aquifers. In what has been framed as...

Oceans | about the High Seas Treaty

What is a HIgh Seas Treaty all about…..? On 4 March 2023, after almost two decades of discussion, including five years of negotiations, the world’s governments finalized the text of a new United Nations (UN) Treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), under the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS). After the text was legally “scrubbed” and translated into the six official UN languages, the final Treaty text was...

A to Z of wildlife | the mighty albatross!

the albatross is a magnificent seabird known for its impressive size and incredible flying abilities, particularly its ability to soar for long distances using wind currents. They have the largest wingspan of any bird, reaching up to 12 feet (3.5 meters) across.        LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

Q&A | WHY …. do bats hang upside down?

The drop and fly theory When you watch a bird take off from the ground, you will notice they need a run-up. In order to get off the ground, flying animals needs to achieve what scientists call “lift” to overcome gravity. Many big birds, and bats, do not have strong enough wing muscles to generate the lift required to take off from a standing position (like a helicopter can). Bats cannot run so it would be almost impossible for them...

Birds of Australia … What bird can YOU spot?

Since it’s Aussie Bird Count this week – “The Aussie Bird Count is for all ages and involves observing and counting the birds that live near you, be it in your garden, the local park, the beach or even outside your office window! You don’t need to be an expert birder to take part — all you need is a little enthusiasm! ”   Here is a guide to the birds of Australia  source: pinterest LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

Bat Awareness Month: Good places for bats 1

As this is Bat Awareness Month…. Here are some ideas about….   How do bats use churches? Why are bats in churches? Many medieval churches have bat roosts, and sometimes these roosts have been used for generations by bats. Cavities in old trees and caves offer suitable roosting spaces for bats, but as these natural roosting sites have been lost many bat species have adapted to using buildings for roosting. Bats have very specific requirements for their roosts – maternity...

A creature of two worlds – the brush tailed possum – cheeky, yet deadly!

My latest feature in Wildlife Australia magazine, about the possum seen as delightful and cheeky in Australia, grilled as a deadly havoc-spreading menace in Aotearoa / New Zealand     There’s a well-known Aussie species, with a benign influence here, but lethal consequences once brought into Aotearoa New Zealand, even if for all the ‘right reasons’ . Henricus Peters shares the story of the brush-tailed possum…     The Australian context  The brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, is the most widely distributed possum in...

Threatened species day 2024 – saving wildlife

Today is Threatened Species Day in Australia Here are some key facts: What is The IUCN Red List? Established in 1964, The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it...

Celebrating the vulture

International Vulture Awareness Day shines a spotlight on the highly important yet vastly misunderstood birds – vultures. Join the hundreds of organisers and thousands of participants that celebrated IVAD over the years to give these underappreciated guardians of nature a voice and drive meaningful conservation action. LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

Bird of the Year ….. voting is now OPEN!!

  After a campaign that will go down in history, the pūteketeke Australasian crested grebe has won Bird of the Century 2023, thanks to a global campaign by British-American comedian John Oliver. Voting for Bird of the Year 2024 is now open! And the polls will close at 5pm on Sunday 15 September. The birds….some of them! Kotutu White heron Ruru Morepork Royal Spoonbill Diary Prion Brown creeper Tui Kokako Yellow-eyed Penguin Stitchbird Takahe Kaka Kakapo Black stilt …. the...

‘Humanity is failing’: latest report on the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef will continue to deteriorate, largely due to climate change, and the window to secure its future is rapidly closing. That is the sobering conclusion of a major new report into the state of the reef. Here is the Executive Summary of that Report: Executive summary The window of opportunity to secure a positive future for the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) is closing rapidly. The Reef remains a vast and spectacular ecosystem and one of the...

Dogs – man’s friend, Mother Nature’s helper

Today – August 26th – is International Dog Dag….. Dogs are known as ‘man’s best friend’ including having more love for their human than themselves Conservation Dogs in New Zealand “ The Conservation Dogs Programme mentors, certifies and supports a nationwide network of dog-handler teams. These teams detect New Zealand’s protected species or unwanted pests.”  ( https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/conservation-dog-programme/ ) Hunting dogs in Africa or wolves in America….. LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

Learn From Nature
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.