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An award-winning New Zealand-designed wasp bait could make a significant difference in the fight against the costly pests, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Nelson-based Richard Toft has won a Conservation Innovation award from the World Wide Fund for Nature for his development of Vespex, which has recently been successfully trialled by the Department of Conservation.

“Wasps are one of the most damaging invertebrate pests in New Zealand and I congratulate Mr Toft on winning this innovation award,” Ms Barry says.

Helping promote good mental health and protect New Zealand’s precious natural environment is the goal of a new agreement announced today by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

The partnership between the Department of Conservation and Mental Health Foundation has been sealed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

It will see both organisations work together to develop projects and connections which will improve mental health and wellbeing and benefit conservation efforts across the country.

Conservation Week 2015 is a chance to get active outdoors and look after New Zealand’s natural world, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“The theme for 2015 is ‘Healthy Nature, Healthy People’ and it’s about the link between looking after our special natural places and the tangible health benefits you can enjoy from experiencing them.”

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says progress on red knot protection in China is a significant step towards safeguarding the bird’s migration routes.

On a visit to the Pukorokoro-Miranda Shorebird Centre in Thames today, Ms Barry met with Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong to discuss his work to secure protection for vital migratory bird wetland habitats in China’s Bohai Bay.

The return of a rare native plant which has been brought back from extinction in the wild is a significant achievement for plant protection in New Zealand, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

A rare white variant of the red kakabeak (ngutukākā or Clianthus) which grew at the Tiniroto cliffs near Wairoa has not been seen in the wild since the 1950s.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says the Environment Aotearoa report released today has given New Zealand a measurable and robust benchmark for environmental performance and conservation goals.

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure, and this report provides us with statistics of ongoing usefulness which will underpin future decision-making,” Ms Barry says.

The return of 50 juvenile kiwi to the Okarito forest on the West Coast is an excellent sign for recovery efforts, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Released this morning at an event attended by the Department of Conservation’s Threatened Species Ambassador, Nicola Toki, the birds will take the population of the rare Rowi kiwi species in the Okarito forest to more than 400.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has announced new funding for three groups with exciting plans to help New Zealand’s national bird thrive in the wild.

$226,000 from the Community Conservation Partnerships Fund will go towards the projects in the West Coast, Northland and the Coromandel.

Efforts to inspire young people to get involved with protecting New Zealand’s natural world will benefit from $566,000 of funding announced today, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Six significant environmental education projects will receive the money from the Community Conservation Partnerships Fund,” Ms Barry says.

“It is vital for the future of conservation in this country that we’re able to support organisations that are doing great work and encourage the next generation to enjoy, value and protect our natural world.”

The fight against introduced predators across New Zealand will receive a significant boost through $2.13 million in Community Conservation Partnerships Fund money announced today by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

“Pests like possums, rats and stoats are, without any doubt, the biggest threat to our native wildlife,” Ms Barry says.

New Zealand Aluminium Smelter’s 25 years of partnership with DOC has helped to bring the kakapo back from the edge of extinction, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“When NZAS joined with DOC and Forest & Bird there were only 49 kakapo left in the world. Now, a quarter of a century later, there are 125 and early indications point to a good upcoming breeding season,” Ms Barry says.

Five groups tackling the major problem of wilding conifers have received $345,000 from the Community Conservation Partnerships Fund as part of the War on Weeds, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

“Wilding conifers cover more than 1.7 million hectares of land, and are advancing at an estimated rate of 5 per cent a year,” Ms Barry says.

“They alter entire landscapes and are notoriously difficult to clear once established, representing a major threat to our unique New Zealand ecosystems, land and farms.”

DOC’s new Queenstown Visitor Centre will showcase the spectacular natural beauty and outdoor adventures on offer in our most popular tourist destination, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Ms Barry opened the centre, on Stanley St, this afternoon.

“From this high-profile, modern and innovative new site, DOC will be at the heart of tourism in Queenstown. It will be a source of up-to-date information for anyone who wants to enjoy the experiences available in the area.”

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has announced a $918,000 commitment to the War on Weeds through this year’s round of Community Conservation Partnerships Fund grants.

$500,000 will go to a significant joint programme run by Weedbusters NZ and the QEII National Trust, and will be used to fund voluntary weedbusting efforts by community groups, alongside regional and local councils.

New Zealanders will be encouraged to roll up their sleeves and join forces to fight against invasive weeds in a new campaign launched today by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

“It’s time to declare War on Weeds,” Ms Barry says. “They choke our forests and waterways, restrict habitat and could ruin cherished and valuable landscapes.”

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has today announced New Zealand’s first Threatened Species Ambassador is Nicola Toki.

The Ambassador will be a high-profile role within the Department of Conservation for all of the country’s threatened species, working to build partnerships and encourage New Zealanders to become involved in conservation efforts.

“As a nation, we face a major battle to save our threatened species. Our unique native wildlife is besieged by introduced pests and other threats,” Ms Barry says.

A new partnership between the Department of Conservation and New Zealand’s largest tourism industry organisation will benefit both our natural environment and the economy, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

The partnership will see DOC work with the Tourism Industry Association to promote tourism on conservation land and beyond across the country.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry is in Melbourne this week to attend the inaugural Threatened Species Summit.

The event on Thursday will be hosted by Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt and chaired by Australia’s Threatened Species Commissioner, Gregory Andrews.

Minister Barry will be one of the keynote speakers, discussing the New Zealand experience of conservation.

The Government will grant up to $100,000 to enable the West Coast’s Old Ghost Road cycle trail to be completed this year, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry announced today.

The Government is working with the Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust, the Buller District Council and Development West Coast on the 85km trail, which will connect the ghost town of Lyell in the Buller Gorge to Seddonville township.

New Zealand has boosted the protection of sharks by signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have signed the agreement today which aims to improve the conservation of seven migratory shark species vulnerable to over-exploitation.

“This international memorandum is the first global instrument of its kind, and we join 38 other countries in becoming a signatory,” says Mr Guy.

Three new marine protected areas (MPAs) have been announced for the West Coast today by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

A generous donation towards protecting our native kauri tree from the ravages of kauri dieback disease has been welcomed by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

Sir Stephen Tindall and Julian Robertson will contribute $480,000 over the next three years through their Tindall and Aotearoa Foundations, targeted at protecting kauri.

$100,000 a year will go towards landowner’s efforts to stop livestock spreading the spores which cause the disease to kauri on their land. It will also fund public education and practical efforts such as hygiene stations at track entrances.

Project Janszoon has named as the recipient of the Supreme Award at this year’s Green Ribbon Awards, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry announced at the ceremony held at Parliament tonight.

A fresh approach to saving the kiwi from extinction has been launched today thanks to a new $11.2 million investment from Budget 2015, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.

Our national bird is struggling to survive and faces a crisis. There are now less than 70,000 birds in the wild with the population falling 2 per cent a year, largely due to invasive predators such as rats, stoats and ferrets.