Forest & Bird - Lower Hutt Branch

06/08/2026

Show your love for conservation land on your fence or in your window 🏡

We're calling on every political party and every candidate in every electorate to protect our conservation land this election.

If you love our conservation land and want it protected, we've got a way to do it! We're making fence signs to get the word out about conservation land.

To get a fence sign, join us at our election hui in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland or Ōtautahi Christchurch at our Future of Conservation Hui. You can pick yours up for free!

Nature can't vote, but we can.

https://collections.humanitix.com/thefutureofconservationhui

01/08/2026

On Tuesday Forest & Bird are presenting a 30,000+ strong petition at Parliament to save Denniston Plateau from fast-tracked open-cast coal mining. All are welcome to come along and support this kaupapa as the petition is presented. If you can, please show up and show your support!

Just one week until we hand over 30,000+ signatures calling for Denniston to be protected from becoming an open-cast coal mine!

We’d love you to join us along with Climate Liberation Aotearoa, 350 Aotearoa and Aotearoa Coal Action Network as we call for the Denniston Plateau to become a scientific reserve!! We are ready with signs and signatures galore ❤️ Parliament Buildings, 4 August, 12:45pm!

If you can’t get to the petition handover, sign the petition now!

17/07/2026

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Sam Rowland as Forest & Bird's new Chief Executive.

Sam brings a wealth of national and international experience in conservation, ecological regeneration and community leadership, with a career dedicated to helping nature recover and thrive.

From national conservation programmes and nature investment research to community-led restoration projects, Sam has worked across Aotearoa to support meaningful action for nature. She currently leads the Tairāwhiti Environment Centre and co-chairs Eastern Whio Link, a major landscape-scale predator control and species recovery initiative.

Sam is driven by the belief that restoring nature is something all of us can be part of, and she's looking forward to working alongside Forest & Bird's members, branches and networks, supporters, staff and partners to strengthen that movement.

Sam starts with Forest & Bird on 28 September 2026. Until then, Erika Toleman will continue as Acting Chief Executive.

We're excited about what lies ahead and look forward to introducing Sam to our wider Forest & Bird whānau over the coming months. 🌳🪶

15/07/2026

Biosecurity New Zealand is asking everyone to be alert after H5 bird flu was detected here in a single ocean-going seabird.

The bird was found on Petone Beach in the Wellington region, and testing confirmed H5 bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza).

This is the first detection of H5 bird flu in New Zealand. It hasn't been found in any other birds and there are no detections in poultry.

New Zealand is well prepared to respond and protect poultry production, and to reduce impacts on wildlife and communities.

Be alert and use good habits to limit the impact of bird flu.
• Keep your distance: Stay away from sick or dead wildlife. Keep pets away too.
• Keep clean: Wash your hands and clean your gear after being outdoors.
• Know when to report: If you see three or more sick or dead birds, report them to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.

We have extensive resources available, including on what to look out for and do/don’t, here: https://bit.ly/4gEC9E8

06/07/2026

Matariki webinar tomorrow night suitable for tamariki 10+!
This Matariki, Forest & Bird invites you to pause, tune in, and reconnect through listening.

Forest & Bird is hosting a webinar centred on Tupuārangi – the whetū | star connected to birds, forests, and life above the ground. Through kōrero grounded in mātauranga Māori | Māori knowledge, guided listening moments, and shared reflections, this webinar explores how we can deepen our connection with te taiao by closely listening to its song.

Together, we’ll step into the te taiao through sound by listening to manu | birds, reflecting on what they tell us about the places we live, and consider what it means to reconnect with the natural world during Matariki.

Discover ways of reconnecting and reflecting. Be inspired to engage with te taiao for Matariki and beyond.

Mānawatia a Matariki!

03/07/2026

💔

Two Northland sisters say they're devastated a rare wetland forest where their father's ashes are scattered could be felled to make way for a new highway.

30/06/2026

Today’s the last day to have your say on master planning for Belmont Regional Park.

We’ve recently learned that in February Greater Wellington regional councillors voted to slow down the planned retirement of livestock grazing and restoration of nature in the park, which means the council will likely miss the emissions targets set when they declared a climate emergency.

If you favour nature restoration in the park, please let them know by completing the survey at the link below or emailing your ideas and feedback to [email protected]

https://haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz/belmont-regional-park-masterplan/

24/06/2026

Great to see local rangatahi upskilling and getting involved in important conservation work. Well done TJ and Zeke! 👏

The future of conservation is in great hands. Predator Free Wellington had the pleasure of working with TJ and Zeke, two hard-working Gateway students from Taita College. In their final years of high school, they got stuck in and impressed the PFW team.