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Newsroom


From Barrens to Forests: The Local Mission to Save Tutukaka’s Kelp
At Church Bay, haukainga, local residents and conservationists gathered to learn about the vital role of kelp forests in the Tutukaka Harbour.
May 223 min read


Protecting kākahi - one catchment group at a time
When you use the term ‘kākahi’, many people give you a blank stare. It’s the te reo name for our freshwater mussels. They’re surprisingly common across New Zealand, but are hard to spot given they spend much of their lives buried in sediment. The average Kiwi has never even seen one alive…though they might have seen mysterious shells on a stream bank and wondered where they came from.
May 72 min read


The hidden stream: Why Boundary Reserve is going back to the future
If you walk through Boundary Reserve East or West in Auckland's Point England right now, you’ll see a vast, quiet stretch of grass in a valley. To the casual observer, it’s just a park. But beneath your feet lies a stream - one that used to be an important part of the ecosystem, and a life-giving force to the creatures and people that lived there. Around 70 years ago, the stream was ‘undergrounded’ - routed into a pipe and buried. There it stayed until January 2023. The Auc
Apr 243 min read


Five things we learned from sponsoring the Ballance Farm Environment Awards
The 2026 Ballance Farm Environment Awards have wound up in regions around the country, with just the national winner to be announced. Congratulations to all the winners from regions around Aotearoa! As well as championing the role of catchment groups, we were also there to hear about what’s happening in rural communities across Aotearoa, and understand more about what effective land management will look like in the future.
Apr 84 min read


Strong Turnout at Kai Iwi Lakes Annual Snorkel
This March, we were stoked to welcome 150 locals to Kai Iwi Lakes to enjoy the lakes and their natural features up close.
Mar 311 min read


Press release: Threatened Northland mudfish takes out Fish of the Year crown after late surge
The Northland mudfish has completed a remarkable victory in Fish of the Year 2026, having first taken the lead with less than 24 hours left to run. It takes the crown from the blobfish, whose viral 2025 victory took the competition to an international audience. The mudfish prevailed despite vigorous campaigning from its competitors, with scales flying in schools, dive shops, and on airwaves and social media across the country. All up, 5896 New Zealanders cast their vote, a ne
Mar 162 min read


Press release: CONTROVER-SEA! Human enters Fish of the Year competition at halfway point
Man re-writes rulebook as longfin eel and whale shark take the lead An unprecedented late entrant has shaken up New Zealand’s favourite aquatic popularity contest. Whale shark and longfin eel/tuna are neck and neck, with big-belly seahorse/manaia currently rounding out the top three on the Fish of the Year leaderboard. However, the registration of ‘honorary fish’ Jono Ridler has left some fellow contenders feeling salty. While ineligible for the overall crown, members of the
Mar 92 min read


Press Release: Dramatic increase in Maitai Bay fish life leaves locals in awe
Community celebrates success of hapū led marine protection More than 250 locals and visitors have been left in awe at the abundance of marine life at Maitai Bay in the Far North. The bay has been under a strict ‘no take’ rāhui for nearly nine years, since local hapū Te Whānau Moana me Te Rorohuri took action at the alarming decline in fish numbers. To see the impact of the protections, the bay’s annual community snorkel day was hosted by Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
Jan 222 min read


Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust - Auckland and Northland events for Summer 2025/26
The summer of 2025/26 promises to be a busy one, with our full list of events now pencilled in! Take a look below. There's a range of snorkelling, kayak, and paddle boarding events listed, so there's plenty of different ways to connect to the water! Please note these events are subject to change - weather and partner availability may influence our schedule. Also note some events are targeted at specific groups (eg locals) first, so you may not have access to book all events w
Dec 15, 20251 min read


Bringing Rangatahi to the Poor Knights Islands
This October, we brought our Marine Mahi For Rangatahi project on an exciting journey to the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.
Nov 20, 20252 min read

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