Animals

33 chicks have left the colony at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head in Dunedin and will spend up to a decade at sea. Audio

When Liz Wright retired from nursing 15 years ago, she and her husband decided to put all their love into raising guide dog puppies. Audio

The critically-threatened Mahoenui giant wētā has been bred in captivity for the first time in decades - at a new centre especially set up for the task.

Experts at navigating the steep landscape of Alicudi, in the Aeolian archipelago north of Sicily, the goats have become a problem as they damage gardens and allotments.

The cost of living could see fewer people take home horses from the Kaimanawa Horse Muster this year, an advocate says.

Underfed cows on a Northland dairy farm were in such poor condition that some had ingrown horns and eye infections. One was so emaciated that a vet recommended it be euthanised, a court has heard.

Frolicking sea lion pups sneaking away in the night have chosen Dunedin roads as their playground.

The image of a young polar bear drifting to sleep on an iceberg, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award.

A rare penguin that turned up on a Dunedin beach last month is preparing to go back home to Antarctica.

The recovery of an injured pūteketeke is fantastic news for the species, says the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Increasingly warmer seas could see new types of marine mammals beaching on New Zealand's shores, experts say.

The whale got stuck on a sandbar in the shallow estuary at Moncks Bay.

Auckland Council is investigating a dog attack in West Auckland yesterday, where a pet dog was killed.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed 13 pigs have died following an Auckland fire early this morning.

"If you're going to make a complaint, you have to have ground of your complaint. If somebody disturbs you for one reason, you can't use another reason to justify something."

Efforts are continuing to find a humpback whale off the Northland coast with a cray pot line tangled around its tail.

Data shows eight native bird species have steadily increased in number since DOC started carrying out bird counts in South Westland's Landsborough Valley 25 years ago.

The Veterinary Association says adopting the changes recommended by a select committee would help protect New Zealand's wildlife.

A tourism operator made the right call to pull the plug on its plans to run the wildlife tours in Lyttelton Harbour, DOC says.

Conservationists have set their sights on a new home for New Zealand's rarest parakeet species, to help boost its population.