Articles tagged with Tama Potaka
Saving New Zealand’s Rare Hamilton’s Frog and White-Bellied Skink from Extinction
4 days ago | 104 viewsConservation efforts are underway to save two critically endangered native New Zealand species, Hamilton’s frog and the white-bellied skink, by creating safe backup populations through captive breeding programs at Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park. Hamilton’s frog populations have declined by about 80%, with remaining wild frogs only on a few islands, while fewer than 100 white-bellied skinks survive in the wild in Canterbury’s high country. These initiatives aim to boost breeding success and eventually reintroduce these species into protected natural habitats to ensure their survival for future generations.
Tags: Tama Potaka Hamilton’s frog Auckland Zoo Orana Wildlife Park Takapourewa Motuara Island Zealandia sanctuary NukuwaiataGovernment Invests $3.9M to Expand Predator Free Dunedin and Protect Otago Wildlife
1 week ago | 121 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing $3.9 million to expand Predator Free 2050 efforts in Otago, building on previous funding for Wellington and Auckland to support successful predator elimination projects. The funding will target the removal of stoats, feral cats, and possums across key areas while enhancing biosecurity and monitoring to protect native wildlife and biodiversity. Additionally, the project will trial advanced technologies such as AI-enabled traps and rapid-response systems to improve predator detection and control.
Tags: Otago Predator Free 2050 Dunedin Tama Potaka Wellington Auckland Port Chalmers Orokonui Ecosanctuary Aramoana Peninsula Blueskin BayNew Waitangi Tribunal Members Nick Wells and Rick Witana Appointed
1 week ago | 147 viewsMāori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the appointments of Nick Wells and Rick Witana to the Waitangi Tribunal, replacing Dr Paul Hamer and Basil Morrison, who are stepping down after long service. Wells and Witana bring extensive expertise in governance, law, Iwi leadership, and Crown–Māori relationships, enhancing the Tribunal's work. Both new members will serve three-year terms, with Wells succeeding Hamer and Witana succeeding Morrison.
Tags: Tama Potaka Nick Wells Rick Witana Paul Hamer Basil Morrison Waitangi Tribunal Ngāpuhi UNICEF Aotearoa Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri Māori DevelopmentMāori Development Minister Tama Potaka Announces Key Governance Reappointments
1 week ago | 140 viewsMāori Development Minister Tama Potaka has confirmed the reappointments of Dr Charlotte Severne as Māori Trustee, Hinerangi Edwards to the Poutama Trust Board, and Brian Morris to the Te Māngai Pāho Board, ensuring continuity in governance across Māori land, economic development, and broadcasting. Each appointee brings extensive experience and a strong commitment to advancing Māori land management, enterprise growth, and the promotion of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. Their leadership is expected to sustain the organisations' efforts in supporting Māori landowners, economic initiatives, and cultural broadcasting.
Tags: Tama Potaka Charlotte Severne Hinerangi Edwards Brian Morris Māori Trustee Poutama Trust Board Te Māngai Pāho Māori Development Māori broadcasting Māori economic developmentTe Taura Whiri Reappoints Dr Jeremy MacLeod and Jennifer Ward-Lealand for Leadership
2 weeks ago | 233 viewsMāori Development Minister Tama Potaka has reappointed Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod as Deputy Chair and Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand as Board members of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for a three-year term starting September 2026, ensuring experienced leadership in the organisation's efforts to revitalise te reo Māori. Dr MacLeod brings over 15 years of governance and language revitalisation expertise, while Ward-Lealand is a respected actor and advocate with extensive governance experience and a strong commitment to promoting te reo Māori. Their continued roles will support Te Taura Whiri’s mission to grow, normalise, and promote the Māori language across Aotearoa.
Tags: Tama Potaka Jeremy Tātere MacLeod Te Taura Whiri Te Wharehuia Milroy Tā Timoti Kāretu Ngāti Kahungunu Te Panekiretanga o te Reo Watershed Theatre The Actors' ProgrammeŌmāhu Marae Homes Transferred to Māori Trusts Supporting Whānau Housing
2 weeks ago | 211 viewsOwnership of 11 temporary homes at Ōmāhu Marae in Hawke’s Bay has been transferred from the Government to local Māori authorities to support Māori-led housing and community resilience following Cyclone Gabrielle. This transfer honors Treaty obligations by enabling local stewardship, preserving cultural continuity, and ensuring the homes remain affordable and serve social good. The initiative reflects partnership and empowerment of Māori communities, with the village named Utaina Ōmāhu symbolizing unity and strength.
Tags: Tama Potaka Ōmāhu Marae Ngāti Hinemanu Ngāi Te Upokoiri Te Piringa Hapū Ngāti Kahungunu Cyclone Gabrielle Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Heretaunga Te Tiriti o WaitangiSecond Native Bird in New Zealand Confirmed with H5 Bird Flu, Response Steps Up
3 weeks ago | 188 viewsNew Zealand has confirmed its second case of H5 bird flu in a native Kāhu hawk, prompting increased surveillance and support for the poultry industry, alongside ongoing vaccination efforts for endangered native birds. The Department of Conservation is actively vaccinating vulnerable species, enhancing biosecurity, and collaborating with partners to mitigate the virus's impact on wildlife. The public is urged to report sightings of sick or dead birds promptly while avoiding contact, as authorities continue monitoring and managing the spread of bird flu.
Tags: Andrew Hoggard Tama Potaka Kāhu H5 bird flu brown skua kākāpō takahē tūturuatu kakī kākāriki karakaNew Ngāmotu Marae in New Plymouth to Boost Culture, Community, and Resilience
1 month ago | 320 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing up to $8.6 million to establish Ngāmotu Marae in central New Plymouth, providing Ngāti Te Whiti with a long overdue home and serving as a cultural, social, and economic hub for the wider community. The marae will feature facilities like a wharenui and wharekai, doubling as an emergency lifeline offering food, shelter, and essential services during crises. With a total cost of $17.8 million and multiple co-funders, the project aims to support jobs during construction and foster long-term cultural tourism, local enterprise, and community development.
Tags: Ngāti Te Whiti Shane Jones Tama Potaka Ngāmotu Marae New Plymouth Moturoa Regional Infrastructure Fund Toi Foundation Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Tōpu Trust Māori DevelopmentNew Zealand Removes Land Disposal Provisions to Protect Conservation Areas
1 month ago | 404 viewsThe New Zealand Government will remove provisions related to the disposal or exchange of conservation land from the Conservation Amendment Bill in response to public concerns. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka emphasized the importance of protecting iconic landscapes and committed to working with environmental groups, stakeholders, and iwi to balance economic development with strong conservation outcomes. The bill, currently under parliamentary review, aims to modernize conservation land management and improve environmental outcomes while ensuring clarity and public support.
Tags: Tama Potaka Conservation Amendment Bill New Zealand Conservation Minister Environmental Defence Society Forest and Bird conservation land conservation legislation economic development parliamentary select committeeTe Here ā Nuku Bill Returns 3000 Hectares of Land to Original Owners in NZ
1 month ago | 354 viewsThe Te Here ā Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill is being introduced to Parliament to return approximately 3,000 hectares of land in the South Island to its rightful owners, resolving a historic trust law issue dating back to the 1840s. The Bill enables the legal transfer of land held by the Crown in trust to the Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust, while allowing the Crown to lease back some land for public use, including key conservation areas. This resolution, distinct from Treaty settlements, addresses a private law matter and corrects a longstanding injustice over land ownership.
Tags: Te Here ā Nuku Nelson Tenths Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Crown Department of Conservation Abel Tasman Great Walk Kaiteretere Treaty of WaitangiGovernment Expands Homelessness Support to Six New Locations in NZ
1 month ago | 375 viewsThe New Zealand Government is expanding homelessness support services to six new locations and extending existing initiatives in major cities, backed by an additional $14.54 million funding to provide tailored local assistance. Since September 2025, efforts like the Housing First programme and transitional housing pilots have successfully moved 674 rough sleepers into stable housing and delivered over 1,500 support activities addressing mental health, addiction, and benefit registration. These measures aim to address both immediate housing needs and the broader challenges linked to homelessness, with community organizations playing a key role in delivering effective, locally-led support.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Housing First homelessness New Zealand outreach services transitional housing social homes Government funding homelessness support providers$14.1M Boost for Predator Control to Protect Native Wildlife in NZ National Parks
1 month ago | 371 viewsNew Zealand’s Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced a $14.1 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy to expand predator control efforts across key South Island national parks and valleys. This funding will help protect native wildlife such as mohua, kiwi, and kea from increased threats due to a major beech mast that has fueled predator population growth. The Department of Conservation will implement its largest predator control program ever, covering over one million hectares using aerial 1080 and trapping methods to safeguard biodiversity and support New Zealand’s predator-free goal.
Tags: Tama Potaka mohua kākāriki karaka piwauwau pekapeka whio kea kiwi Department of Conservation International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy$2M Boost to Double Wasp Control in New Zealand's Visitor Hotspots and Biodiversity Sites
1 month ago | 389 viewsThe New Zealand government is doubling wasp control efforts in visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites with a $2 million boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, aiming to expand the Wasp Wipeout program nationwide. This program targets harmful introduced German and common wasps, which significantly damage native species and cost the economy over $130 million annually, by providing bait and technical support to community groups. The increased funding will enable treatment of 60,000 hectares annually, improve coordination and research, and help restore native ecosystems by reducing wasp populations.
Tags: Tama Potaka Wasp Wipeout International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy Department of Conservation New Zealand Vespula wasps German wasps biodiversity invasive species native birdsInvestigation and Remediation of Former Endeavour Inlet Mine Site in Marlborough Sounds
1 month ago | 378 viewsThe environmental impacts of the former Endeavour Inlet antimony mine site in Marlborough Sounds are being investigated for remediation, with a two-year project funded equally by the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Conservation. The investigation will assess contamination risks to soil, water, and ecology, consider sea level rise effects, and inform mitigation and safety measures to protect the surrounding recreational, coastal, and heritage areas. This effort aims to manage risks and preserve the environment for continued public enjoyment of the region.
Tags: Nicola Grigg Tama Potaka Marlborough Sounds Endeavour Inlet Ministry for the Environment Department of Conservation antimony Queen Charlotte Track Picton environmental remediation$5.3M Māori Development Fund Boosts Businesses, Jobs & Exports in NZ
1 month ago | 431 viewsThe Māori Development Fund has invested over $5.3 million to support Māori-owned businesses in horticulture, aquaculture, and renewable energy, aiming to create jobs, boost regional economies, and expand exports in line with the Government's growth framework. Key investments include $2.6 million for Hineuru Orchards in Hawke's Bay to enhance crop protection and export capacity, and $1.5 million for Akaroa King Salmon to upgrade infrastructure and increase production, generating approximately 50 new jobs. These initiatives promote sustainable development, energy transition, and long-term prosperity for Māori communities while strengthening New Zealand's overall economic success.
Tags: Tama Potaka Parininihi ki Waitōtara Hineuru Orchards Akaroa King Salmon Ōnuku Rūnanga Ngāti Porou Māori Development Fund Māori businesses New Zealand economy Māori Development Minister