RNZ has reported the Conservation Minister will remove a controversial clause in a proposed law that would allow more conservation land to be sold.

Tama Potaka told the Environmental Defence Society conference the country’s understanding of the Conservation Amendment Bill differed to his intention.

He blamed himself for that, saying he wasn’t clear enough when he was explaining how land would be protected.

Potaka had previously described the bill as the biggest change to conservation management in decades, saying it removed red tape and modernised how public conservation was managed.

One of the proposed changes – that is now being clawed back – would have allowed for the sale of an extra 2.8 million hectares of conservation land to be sold, on top of the 2.4 million hectares of stewardship land that was already eligible for sale.

However, environmental groups still want the bill binned and while Forest & Bird’s acting chief executive Erika Toleman said the backdown was an incredible win for the people of Aotearoa, she warned even with the sales proposal gone, there was still a risk land could be sold due to an economic clause in the bill.

Public submissions on the bill close on 2 July.

According to analysis by Forest & Bird, the conservation land that would become easier to sell off includes popular recreational areas such as the Tararua Range and Kaimanawaua Forest Park. It also includes part of Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage site. The bill also proposes allowing more economic activity on the land unavailable for sale. Read more from The Spinoff.

Want to know more about the Conservation Amendment Bill? Read our explainer.

100 days exploring new rivers in Fiordland

Going whitewater hunting in one of the most remote parts of the country might seem like a massive logistical undertaking. 

But Dan Sutherland, one of a trio of men who did just that, says once they arrived, they basically winged it.Sutherland, along with Ethan Roadley and Daymon Nuhaj, set off in Autumn 2024 and spent 100 days off-grid – paddling, hiking, fishing and filming the adventure.

Sutherland has now turned the footage into 100 Days in Fiordland, which won Best New Zealand Made Film Award at this year’s NZ Mountain Film Festival.

The trip almost went off the rails at the first hurdle. Starting off in Lake Hauroko, they paddled down the Wairaurāhiri River to the coast, where they met “sub-optimal” conditions, Sutherland says.

And then they went too hard on the food supplies early, he says. “We ran out of everything and then we just had salt and blue cod and it was like, oh this is pretty average but it’s not too bad, then we ran out of salt… this is actually quite grim – like saltless fish is not that great as it turns out.” Read more from Boating NZ.

New track to Asbestos Cottage now open

The new route was put in after sampling found unsafe levels of asbestos in the soil on the previous track and traces of asbestos in the hut.

DOC Golden Bay Operations Manager Ross Trotter says the popular hut has been decontaminated, and areas of asbestos contamination around the hut have been remediated, so it’s safe for people to visit again.

“It starts from a different spot a bit further up, on Cobb Dam Road near the information shelter… The old track has been removed from our track network and signage has been removed. We ask people not to use it or visit the area around the mine for their safety. It won’t surprise anyone that there’s asbestos around an old asbestos mine site – it can potentially be a serious health risk, so its important people steer clear and use the new route.” Read more from DOC.

$2m boost to expand wasp control nationwide

Wasp Wipeout, a Stuff campaign spearheaded by the Nelson Mail 10 years ago, has reached a major milestone after the Government announced a $2 million boost to its funding to take the programme nationwide.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the Wasp Wipeout program would be backed by $2 million funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) that would see wasp control across visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites double.

“New Zealand has some of the highest Vespula wasp densities in the world. At some sites, all you hear is the hum of wasps at the height of summer. This funding will help return the sound of the bush back to birdsong.”

Potaka said wasps had a major impact on native species and were also one of the most damaging insect pests in the country, costing the economy more than $130m annually.

Potaka said the IVL investment would mean Wasp Wipeout – which works with community groups by providing bait and technical expertise to control introduced German and common (Vespula) wasps – could spread to every region in New Zealand. Read more from Stuff.

Visit Europe’s last true wilderness

Sarek National Park in Northern Sweden was established in 1909. It forms part of a vast, wild landscape with glaciers, alpine peaks and deep river valleys and covers an estimated 1,977 square kilometres.

It is sometimes described as ‘Europe’s last true wilderness’ as a result of its remoteness and the total absence of infrastructure. Unlike many national parks, Sarek has no marked hiking trails, mountain lodges or guided routes, making it only suitable for experienced hikers.

The wild alpine landscape features massive glaciers and fast-flowing rivers that flow through valleys below. Mountain peaks rise above 2,000 metres, creating a dramatic alpine skyline, while the vast tundra plateaus stretch into the distance. Weather conditions can shift rapidly, with snow, rain and strong winds all possible in a single day, even during summer months.

Despite its harsh environment, Sarek supports a remarkable range of wildlife adapted to Arctic conditions, such as moose, reindeer, lynx, wolverine and brown bear. Read more about the park from Discover Wildlife.