Source: Department of Conservation
The summer season is upon us once again, and with that brings the festive spirit, family time, relaxation and many adventures. Many kiwis, nation and bird alike will be taking pause, time to themselves and looking to recuperate before the new year.
Whether you are an advanced tramper, or a complete amateur when it comes to our national walks, lakes, forests and wildlife, the same rules apply, we urge you to consider and respect the wildlife that call the environment surrounding you, home.
Always remember DOC HOT. Our emergency hotline that operates 24/7.
Call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) immediately if you see anyone catching, harming or killing native wildlife.
Here are 7 important top tips we have compiled for hanging out with the wildlife this summer:
1) Take time before you go to research, plan and understand the different wildlife that inhabit where you are planning to go
One of the most important tips to take with you, is having a clear plan of action ready and available to you when you are on your tramp/hike/bike or swim. New Zealand is precious – everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.
Make sure you are utilising all information available to you on our website, detailed tips and tricks for your desired destination.
- Take care of Aotearoa, and always be prepared for your trip:
– Weather
– Maps
– Land Safety Code
– Take a distress beacon
– Gear lists - Alerts: find out about changes in conservation areas that might affect the safety or enjoyment of your trip
- Protect nature: keep your distance and don’t feed wildlife (more on this below). Follow any rules restricting dogs, fires, drones and vehicles.
– How to behave around wildlife
– Dog access
– Pets on public conservation land
– Fires on public conservation land
2) Don’t feed the native wildlife
Over the days, weeks, months of your travelling/tramping/exploring, protect our precious native species by keeping your distance and not feeding them.
Don’t share your picnic with birds, no matter how convincing they may be, especially our cheeky kea.
Our birds evolved without human food and aren’t used to it – it can make them sick and can even be fatal. Wildlife congregating in areas known for human food can also spread disease. If kākā or kea eat food such as nuts and seeds they may develop metabolic bone disease.
So, don’t feed our wildlife – even if they ask.
3) If you want a picture, don’t get close – use your zoom instead
Getting too close stresses wildlife.
Top tip: enjoy marine mammals – from a distance. Especially seals and sea lions.
Keep at least 20 m, the length of two buses, away from seals and sea lions. If you are too close, they may panic and stampede, hurting themselves in the process. Some may become aggressive, especially if you are blocking their escape route to the sea or near their babies.
They can move as quickly as you can.
Although they look cute, they have a nasty bite. Their resting time on land is important, so try not to disturb them.
If you are in the water, on your boats, jet skis, paddle boarding or even just swimming – and you are lucky enough to see one of our marine mammals (e.g. dolphins or whales), it is important to stay back and give them space.
Before you go check the rules for operating boats or swimming near marine mammals here: Sharing our coasts with marine mammals (doc.govt.nz)
Image: Ailie Suzuki, Dolphin Watch & Nature Tours. | ©
4) Leave nesting birds ALONE
If you come across a roped off or signposted area, it may be a nesting ground for one of our critically endangered species, like dotterel or black billed gulls.
You need to avoid these places to protect our species.
Make sure your dogs are kept away as well.
It is important to remember, not all birds nesting spots are marked, so stay alert while walking on dunes or riverbeds and avoid any birds you see.
Image: Mithuna Sothieson | DOC
5) Take extra care if you have dogs with you
Having your best friend on your adventure seems like a great idea at first, unless your best friend is furry and four-legged with a nose for investigating! Do yourself a favour, make sure you know where you can take your dog and access rules – different areas have different rules on if you can take your dog there or not. Some areas allow dogs, others require a permit, and some do not allow dogs at all.
Birds get stressed when chased by dogs. One panicked seal can start a chain reaction in a breeding colony, where pups are at risk of being crushed by adult seals rushing to the sea for safety.
A wildlife scan makes a good game plan.
Some of the wildlife on our beaches can be quite camouflaged. Sleeping fur seal/kekeno, or sea lion/pakake can look a lot like a log or bit of driftwood from a distance. Visually scan the area so you are always one step ahead of your dog and you can plan where to walk.
Image: Shellie Evans
Different coloured leads
You might start noticing more traffic-light-coloured leads around the place because of Lead the Way. These are a bonus for dog safety as they let others know the temperament of your dog.
- Green is friendly with dogs and people
- Orange is caution sometimes nervous/reactive with new dogs or people
- Red is often nervous or reactive with new dogs or people
- Yellow is disabled so vulnerable to some interactions
It’s always good practice to ask an owner permission first before approaching their dog – no matter what colour lead, bandana or collar a dog might be wearing, if they say no, please respect their dog’s need for space.
Not all dogs like other dogs or people.
If you ignore dog access rules or conditions, you may be issued an infringement fine or prosecuted if you take your dogs into no access areas, controlled areas without a permit, or breach the conditions of your permit.
A dog may be seized and impounded or destroyed if it is found in a national park or controlled dog area without a permit.
Report dogs where they are not allowed to Animal Control or DOC:
- Animal Control: +64 7 348 4199
- 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
Cats are not allowed on national conservation land under any circumstances.
6) Keep New Zealand clean
Take all rubbish with you and use toilets where provided. Be a tidy kiwi, as you would do in your own home, our beautiful nature and wildlife deserve the same respect.
Poo in a loo – and be prepared when there isn’t one
Like all waste, it’s important to properly dispose of used period products when tramping. Take used tampons and pads away with you and know how to properly empty menstrual cups in the backcountry.
Help keep our natural environment free of litter. Litter harms our environment and wildlife. This includes food scraps which feed pests like rats, stoats and mice.
Be prepared to carry your litter away with you.
There are no rubbish bins in the bush. It helps to come prepared with a container or bag for rubbish and to remove excess packaging before you go.
Image: DOC
Do not discard plastics, nylon fishing line and other types of rubbish at sea. Like whales, large filter-feeding sharks and rays can accidentally ingest these, and all species suffer from entanglement in marine debris.
7) Finally, be respectful
Respect others, respect culture.
Help everyone enjoy the outdoors by being considerate of others when you’re out in nature. Make space for others, keep noise down and read up on tramping hut etiquette.
Bikes, dogs and drones can really impact on other people, so make sure you are following the rules and being considerate to others.
Cultural heritage sites are places in the landscape that tell the physical, spiritual, and cultural stories of our past. They are places we value and connect to as New Zealanders. When visiting a heritage site please treat it with care and respect, so it can be enjoyed for many generations to come.
For Māori, public conservation land is a taonga (treasure) and of special significance. Many of these places are wāhi tapu (sacred to Māori) and need to be treated with respect. If you are visiting a place that is wāhi tapu, there may be restrictions on access. There may also be tikanga (protocols) in place, such as not eating, running, or making loud noises while at the wāhi tapu site. Respect these tikanga.
Be a good kiwi and help keep our land clean and free from harm.
This time of year, has snuck up on most of us, we know! So, make sure in all the last-minute adventures you are undertaking, you have made time to plan, prepare and are ready to protect. Act responsibly and safely for yourself, as well as those of all species, sizes and forms in the environment surrounding us that need our help to keep Aotearoa their home.
