Tag Archives: Environment
Bringing Kiwi back to the Kaitake Range From Taranaki Mounga Project
For decades kiwis were not seen or heard in the Kaitake Range in Taranaki. But after a massive predator control effort ten kiwis were released there last year - all have paired up and are breeding an...
Project Janszoon airlifts rare ducks into Abel Tasman
One of NEXT’s environmental initiatives, Project Janszoon, has given some rare blue ducks a grand entry into the Abel Tasman National Park - as part of its conservation strategy to help protect the sp...
Predator Free Wellington – 100,000 rats caught
Predator Free Wellington has released its latest Impact Report - which shows trappers have caught more than 100,00 rats - and counting. It’s also close to eliminating rats on the Miramar Peninsula, wi...
Project Janszoon Annual Report 2021
Project Janszoon, one of the projects in NEXT’s environmental portfolio is about to celebrate its tenth anniversary and as its annual report shows the initiative is on track for some signifiant biodiv...
December 2021
Kia ora friend of NEXT, When we set the education and environmental initiatives NEXT supports the challenge of coming up with an image and one sentence to illustrate their highlight of 2021 for our...
Te Manahuna Aoraki Annual Report released
One of NEXT’s environmental investments, Te Manahuna Aoraki, has released its Annual Report for 2021. The project is restoring the iconic natural landscape and birdlife in the MacKenzie Basin and Ao...
Fight for the Wild wins International Award from NEXT
The documentary series Fight for the Wild - that follows the moonshot mission to make New Zealand a predator free country - has won international acclaim. The series, produced by Peter Young and Fis...
Research shows Regenerative Farming helps biodiversity
Native birds and vegetation are likely to benefit if regenerative farming practices are adopted, according to new research supported by NEXT. The New Zealand Herald reports.
Kiwis granted exemption to travel to Rotoroa IslandFrom Rotoroa Island
Four kiwi chicks and their handlers were granted a Covid travel exemption to travel to Auckland - where they have been released onto the wildlife sanctuary, Rotoroa Island. Rotoroa Island is one of ...
Improved survival rates for endangered birds
Predator control has meant hatching rates for some of the endangered bird species at the Te Manahuna Aoraki environmental project in the Mackenzie Country are going up. The project is one of the envir...
Rare wētā thriving at Te Manahuna Aoraki
Conservationists at Te Manahuna Aoraki - an environmental initiative NEXT invests in - are celebrating an invertebrate success. In a predator free enclosure they set up to protect the endangered Robus...
Tipunakore RangiwaiAt home restoring his tupuna maunga from Taranaki Mounga
Taranaki Mounga Kaiwhakamōkihi/Trainee Ranger Tipunakore Rangiwai (Taranaki Iwi) is doing the mahi to help restore his maunga. This video follows his journey and how it has positively impacted the res...
Conservation dog Julius tracks feral cats
Feral cats are one of the main predators in the Te Manahuna Aoraki project area. They are stealthy hunters and are hard to control. So alongside other methods like trapping and trail cameras the envi... Spring Edition – September 2021
Kia ora friend of NEXT, With Aotearoa New Zealand in another lockdown it seems apt that this newsletter features a story from former PFNZ 2050 Ltd CEO Abbie Reynolds on conservation as a catalyst f...
Haere Rā Lou Sanson from NEXT
The Director General of Conservation Lou Sanson retires this month after eight years at the helm. The relationship between NEXT and DOC has been a crucial part of NEXT’s strategic philanthropy approac... NEXT June Newsletter – Fight for the Wild
In this special edition newsletter we share all the links to Fight for the Wild - the four part documentary series on New Zealand’s audacious goal to become Predator Free by 2050. Documentary maker Pe...
Birds on the Brink – a documentary on Predator Free NZ 2050 from 101 East Al Jazeera
Predator Free NZ 2050 has been put under an international lens - it’s the focus of a new documentary released by 101 East Al Jazeera. The documentary on New Zealand’s "hairy audacious goal” features e...
Next generation at the Project Janszoon Board table
NEXT supported environmental initiative Project Janszoon has invited a teenager onto its Board, as this story in Stuff reports.
Conservation as a catalyst for wellbeing
In this edition of NEXT Outlook, Predator Free 2050 Limited CEO Abbie Reynolds discusses how the predator free movement’s benefits go far beyond saving more than 25 million birds a year and helping pr...
Fight for the Wild – podcast series
A podcast series by freelance environmental journalist Dave Hansford has been released to compliment the video series of Fight for the Wild. “Predator Free NZ 2050 is by far the biggest and best news...
Fight for the Wild episode four – Hope
In the final episode of Fight for the Wild, we travel to predator free Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island to see what the vision of a predator-free Aotearoa could look like. We discover breakthroug...
Fight for the Wild episode three – Battle
Fight for the Wild episode three focuses on the mahi being undertaken to save New Zealand’s endangered bird species.While bird song is receding across New Zealand’s mainland, hundreds of community-led...
Fight for the Wild episode two – Defiance
New Zealander’s have drawn a line in the sand, announcing that Aotearoa will rid the nation of rats, stoats and possums by 2050. We’ve been successful on off-shore islands, but what will it take to ex...
FIGHT FOR THE WILD RELEASE
New Zealand’s ambitious goal to become predator free by 2050 is under the spotlight in a four part documentary and podcast series that is released next week - a project supported by NEXT. The docum...
Fight for the Wild
NEXT is excited to be a funder in a four part documentary series on the Predator Free 2050 movement - Fight for the Wild. Fight for the Wild takes viewers into the wild heart of Aotearoa and docume...
Kiwis return to Kaitake Ranges from Taranaki Mounga Project
Ten western brown kiwi have been released into the bush in Taranaki - in an historic reintroduction of the birds into the Kaitake Ranges, part of the National Park. The release follows a huge colla...
Te Manahuna Aoraki monitoring endangered lizards
Do you know how important lizards are to protecting the biodiversity of the South Island High Country? This TVOne News story explains why - and why its important to monitor the endangered species i...
Kiwi return to the Kaitake Ranges
After decades of absence kiwi have been returned to the Kaitake Ranges in Taranaki. A fabulous milestone for NEXT supported environment initiative Taranaki Mounga, other conservation groups and the pe...
Rotoroa Island celebrates 10 years
Rotoroa Island is celebrating10 years as a wildlife sanctuary - and visitors over Easter were treated to a kiwi release. The island was closed to the public for 100 years as The Salvation Army’s dr...
Hike of the humble hedgehog
TV One News reports on a research project underway into hedgehogs at NEXT supported environmental initiative Te Manahuna Aoraki. Hedgehogs are a major predator in the MacKenzie Basin - so the resea...
Predator Free South Westland launched
New Zealand’s most ambitious predator free project launched New Zealand’s largest and most ambitious predator free project will provide a pathway towards the country’s goal of being predator free b...
Regenerative Agriculture: White Paper recommends priorities
NEXT Foundation has welcomed a white paper released today setting out research priorities for the future of regenerative farming in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Paper was released by Our Land and Wate...
NEXT environmental initiatives reflect on 2020
[video width="1200" height="600" mp4="https://www.nextfoundation.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Environment-Video-2020.mp4"][/video] We set the environmental initiatives NEXT invests i...
Maori Legend – The Creation of Aoraki /Mount CookFrom Te Manahuna Aoraki
Most of the landmarks in Te Manahuna Aoraki are named after ancestors of the waka atua Āraiteuru including the majestic Aoraki. Te rūnaka o Moeraki Upoko, and Te Manahuna Aoraki board member, David Hi...
ZIP and Cacophony Project awarded funding
Two of the environmental initiatives NEXT supports have been awarded funding by PFNZ2050 Ltd. The Cacophony Project and Zero Invasive Projects have both been given funding to develop tools to help ...
PROJECT JANSZOON MILESTONE – 40,000 RATS
Project Janszoon, an environmental initiative NEXT supports restoring the ecosystems in the Abel Tasman National Park, has reached a signifiant milestone. It has trapped over 40,000 rats over the p...
Te Manahuna Aoraki releases annual report 2020
Te Manahuna Aoraki - an environmental initiative NEXT invests in, has published its 2020 Annual Report. It outlines all the mahi being done on this collaborative project to restore the biodiversity...
Purpose-driven structures for Impact Entrepreneurs in Aotearoa New Zealand
NEXT environmental director Jan Hania is part of a group that has published this paper looking at future business in Aotearoa through a stewardship and kaitiakitanga lens. Read more here.
PFNZ 2050 Limited releases annual report
Predator Free New Zealand 2050 Limited has released its annual report. Chair Jane Taylor and CEO Abbie Reynolds says it has been a dramatic year - with Covid-19 presenting challenges and opportunit...
ZIP 2020 Annual Report
Zero Invasive Predators has released its 2020 Annual Report. The report outlines progress on the Perth River Valley project where ZIP has undertaken the biggest ever mainland predator eradication p... NEXT Newsletter – October 2020
In this edition of the NEXT newsletter, Wellington welcomes some new rare residents, we introduce you to the second cohort of NEXT fellows, the Ministry of Eduction collaborates more closely with phil...
NEXT announces new cohort of Fellows
NEXT is delighted to support seven Fellows over the next year in various educational and environmental fields. Read the full publication here.
Wellington a Covid-19 safe haven for endangered birds
An endangered bird species has settled into new digs in Wellington. The matuku moana / reef heron has been spotted off Island Bay - proof the strategy for Predator Free Wellington is paying dividen...
Predator Free Wellington Impact Report Released From Predator Free Wellington
Predator Free Wellington has released its impact report for 2019/20. Project director James Willcocks says "In a year of a global pandemic, predator free mahi has proven it’s not only good for the ...
Predator Free Wellington gets funding boostFrom Predator Free Wellington
Predator Free Wellington has received an additional $7.6million funding boost as part of the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme. The funding comes from Predator Free NZ 2050 Limited. It will fast...
Predator Free NZ 2050 Limited announces new CEO
Abbie Reynolds has been appointed CEO of Predator Free NZ 2050 Limited. Abbie is the former Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Council and takes over the role next month. Photo credi... NEXT Newsletter – August 2020
Kia ora friend of NEXT He rangi tā matawhāiti, he rangi tā matawhānui A person with narrow vision has a restricted horizon, a person with wide vision has plenty of opportunities. Looking for...
Protecting the Environment from Mounga to Moana
Taranaki Mounga DOC Ranger Tama Blackburn loves his Waitara community. He describes his connection to Koro Taranaki, and his community volunteering efforts with Waitara taiao (natural environment) and...
Taiohi Enhance their Connection to Koro Taranaki
Tiki Toa, is a fabulous programme for intermediate children of Taranaki - focussing on their connection to to Taranaki Mounga, the taiao (natural environment) and Te Ao Māori (Maori world view) to sup...
South Taranaki Students Sound Off on Stoats
Students from Auroa School in South Taranaki are helping provide a safe haven for endangered species on Taranaki Mounga. They have developed a solar powered audio system to lure stoats into traps - an...
Making a START Toward a Rewarding Future
Trevor Walker - Trevor is from START Taranaki, a programme that supports young men in the youth justice system. Trev has found a new happy place - on the Mounga, where he is building traps and cutting...
Taranaki Mounga – Benefits Beyond Biodiversity from Taranaki Mounga
Photo Credit: Jeremy Beckers Taranaki Mounga is an ambitious conservation project transforming the mountain, ranges and islands of Taranaki. But as well as protecting and enhancing the biodiversit...
Te Manahuna Aoraki – Saving the endangered Robust Grasshopper
One of the world’s first predator free fences for insects is operating near Tekapo - to help save the endangered Robust Grasshopper. As this video by NEXT supported environmental project Te Manahuna A...
Project Janszoon – Saving Rare Native Snails
The Abel Tasman National Park is home to two rare native snails - including a critically endangered species. In this video NEXT supported environmental initiative Project Janszoon looks at the intense...
Rising to the Challenge Stories from the Covid-19 Crisis NEXT supported environmental projects
Covid 19 presented unforeseen challenges to the environmental projects NEXT supports - but also created opportunities. In this series Polly Hudson looks at how the environmental projects pivoted in...
NEXT appoints Environmental Operations Director
NEXT Foundation has announced it has appointed an Environmental Operations Director. Stephen Hall has more than 20 years experience in natural resource management, and will take up the role in Octo...
Ipipiri Nature Conservancy Trust – Negotiating a purchase mid Covid-19 by Polly Hudson for NEXT
The Ipipiri Nature Conservancy Trust has secured a deal to buy Elliot Bay - a 700 hectare property at one of Northland’s iconic surf beaches. The Trust has a vision of preserving the Māori heritage, ...
Zero Invasive Predators receives funding for detection camera From Zero Invasive Predators
NEXT supported environmental project Zero Invasive Predators has received funding to develop a backcountry detection camera to help track rats stoats and possums that are decimating the birdlife in Ne...
Te Manahuna Aoraki – Covid 19 lockdown luckyby Polly Hudson NEXT Foundation
When Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased it came just in time for the field workers at NEXT supported environmental project Te Manahuna Aoraki. They were able to retrieve some predator monitorin...
Northland coastal farm Elliot Bay saved from development
Could the Bay of Islands become the location of a Great Walk to rival the Milford and Routeburn Tracks? That’s the vision of the Ipipiri Nature Conservancy Trust after it secured a deal on 700 hectare...
Elliot Bay saved from development
Iconic national surf beach Elliot Bay has been saved from development - with the Ipipiri Nature Conservancy Trust managing to secure a deal in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. NEXT is one of many ...
Cacophony – Kiwis develop Te Kahu Ora – Cloak of Health to help fight Covid by Polly Hudson for NEXT
The Cacophony Project focuses on New Zealand’s big environmental problem - developing AI to help get rid of the rats stoats and possums that kill 25 million of our native birds a year. But when the...
Covid-19 Opinion – What’s NEXT?
Our Relationship with Nature in the age of Covid-19 By Devon McLean NEXT Environmental Advisor What would happen in New Zealand if we applied the mutual care attitude we adopted during the Covi...
Project Janszoon – Birds, nature and no crowds – the new Abel Tasman National Park
by Polly Hudson for NEXT
The Abel Tasman National Park is open again to the public - and post Covid-19 lockdown there is a rare opportunity for New Zealanders to visit without the crowds.
It’s also a chance to experience s... 
Taranaki Mounga rejuvenated after Covid-19 lockdown by Polly Hudson for NEXT
The Covid-19 lockdown gave iconic Taranaki Mounga a chance to breathe and balance himself, according to the Chair of the Taranaki Mounga project and iwi leader Jamie Tuuta. The mounga, which has hu...
Rotoroa Island : Restoration legacy continues post Covid-19 by Polly Hudson for NEXT
Rotoroa Island has a history of restoration. Initially it served as an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre under its owners The Salvation Army. For the past ten years The Rotoroa Island Trust...
Predator Free Wellington: Lockdown – Stop, Look and Listen
by Polly Hudson for NEXT
Lockdown has allowed Wellington residents the opportunity to appreciate the mahi of its Predator Free Wellington project.
Birds have been spreading their wings and discovering new parts of the city- ... 
Cacophony project repurposes predator cams to Covid-19 fever cams
Entrepreneur and inventor Grant Ryan - who runs the NEXT supported Cacophony Project, is using his kiwi ingenuity to repurpose a predator thermal camera design to help try and eliminate Covid 19. The ...
ZIP social isolators become lockdown socialisers
by Polly Hudson for NEXT
Some of the field rangers for Zero Invasive Predators - an initiative NEXT invests in - are extreme social isolators. They are used to spending ten days at time in remote South Island huts by themselv... 
Lifting our Aspirations – stories of strategic philanthropy from Aotearoa and beyond.
NEXT is delighted to share with you a new publication which focuses on fourteen case studies of strategic philanthropy both within New Zealand and overseas. Read more here. NEXT Newsletter – April 2020
Kia ora friend of NEXT. Welcome to the NEXT newsletter “Lockdown edition” - we hope you and your families are safe and well during these challenging times. Just as Aotearoa New Zealand was enter...
Farewell to Sir Rob Fenwick, KNZM KStJ
NEXT Foundation is saddened to hear of the loss of iconic environmentalist Sir Rob Fenwick, KNZM KStJ. Sir Rob was a valued mentor and friend of the NEXT Foundation team, a regular guest speaker ...
Whio ducklings in record numbers – Taranaki Mounga
The endangered rare native blue duck - the whio, is hatching in record numbers in Taranaki. Taranaki Mounga - a NEXT environmental investment that is restoring the biodiversity to the mountain and ...
Creating an Urban Movement for Nature by Peter Chrisp, Chairman Predator Free Wellington
Why is Wellington on an ambitious journey to try and become the first Predator Free capital city in the world? In this edition of NEXT Outlook, Predator Free Wellington Chair Peter Chrisp outlines ...
Creating an Urban Movement for Nature by James Willcocks, Project director Predator Free Wellington
Predator Free Wellington Project Director James Willcocks shares stories from The Miramar Peninsula predator eradication project, in this presentation for a NEXT Outlook breakfast. The project has ...
Te Manahuna Aoraki trapping helping endangered birds From Te Manahuna Aoraki
Predator control networks around the braided rivers of South Canterbury is helping some of the endangered bird species have a better chance of survival. The trapping network, which is part of the ...
High tech mainland predator control success
Zero Invasive Predators - a NEXT environmental investment - has just completed a successful predator eradication operation on mainland New Zealand. The Perth River Valley project is groundbreaking - ...
MIRAMAR PENINSULA NEARLY RAT FREE
Residents in the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington might be getting their best christmas present ever - after a huge eradication project by Predator Free Wellington - one of NEXT’s environmental investm...
Giving while Living
Kea has profiled Neal and Annette Plowman and NEXT foundation in their end of year newsletter as part of a feature on a Giving in New Zealand. Read more here.
Success in the Perth River Valley : ZIP’s mainland eradication trial
by Zero Invasive Predators
NEXT supported environmental initiative Zero Invasive Predators has undertaken a ground breaking trial in Perth River Valley, South Westland.
The ZIP team carried out a challenging operation to com... 
NEXT environmental investments profiled in Predator Free NZ article
New Zealand Geographic has featured three of NEXT’s environmental initiatives in an in depth feature on New Zealand’s ambitious goal to become a Predator Free country by 2050. Zero Invasive Predato...
NEXT announces inaugural fellowships
The fellows, who will be supported for a year, will undertake research in two of NEXT’s investment focus areas, the first 1,000 days of life, and healthy rivers. Read the article here.
Taranaki Mounga Annual Report 2019
Taranaki Mounga - one of NEXT’s environmental investments, has published its annual report highlighting progress in this project which is restoring the biodiversity on the Mounga and its surrounds. ...
Iwi and philanthropy investing together for change by Rangimarie Price and John McCarthy
Strategic philanthropy is at the very heart of NEXT foundation - supporting education and environmental initiatives with not just funding but governance, management and other expertise too. It is a m...
Te Manahuna Aoraki publishes Annual Report 2019
Te Manahuna Aoraki - one of NEXT’s environmental investments, has published its inaugural annual report. In its first year it has focused on providing a safer environment for the birds that live in th...
Te Manahuna Aoraki predator catch exceeds 1,000
The Te Manahuna Aorkai environmental initiative - which NEXT invests in - has caught more than 1,000 predators in its first year of operation. The project has counted rats, possums, hedgehogs, musteli...
Goats gone on Taranaki Mounga?
For more than one hundred years conservation authorities have been trying to eradicate feral goats from Taranaki Mounga. Now a thermal imagine exercise has found no evidence of any goats. Does this me...
Storytelling as a tool for reflection
NEXT turned five earlier this year, which represents the half way point of it’s ten year life as a spend down foundation. Since then I’ve been reflecting on the NEXT journey, and in particular the imp...
Supporting sustainability and preparing for transition
NEXT’s approach to sustainability NEXT is a spend down foundation and planning for transition begins at the point of NEXT investment Sustainability of grant partners includes financial resilie...
Voices of grant partners
A learning journey Three independent evaluations of NEXT from a grant partner (‘partner’) perspective will occur over the ten year life of the Foundation. The first happened in 2016 and the secon...
NEXT Governance
NEXT’s approach to governance NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman wanted a board that was small, flexible and philosophically aligned, with people they knew and trusted The thinking in the ...
Selecting grant partners
NEXT’s approach to selecting partners NEXT Foundation launched in March 2014 and three months later ran it’s first expression of interest (EOI) round, calling nationally for applications in the a...
Aotearoa Circle publishes Sustainable Finance Forum report
The Aotearoa Circle has published a report setting out why New Zealand needs to urgently shift to a sustainable economy - including recommendations on how to achieve this goal. Read the full report...
Predator Free Wellington hunts for last rats on the Miramar Peninsula
A major rat eradication project on the Miramar Peninsula is in its final weeks. When will the last rat be found - and where will it be? Radio New Zealand interviewed PFW director James Wilcocks to c...
Predator free Wellington impact report
Do you know how many Wellingtonians support a Predator Free Wellington , how many communities have set up predator free groups and how many rodents have been caught? All these details and more in the...
Kākā release into Abel Tasman National Park
By Robyn Janes
A huge milestone for NEXT environmental initiative Project Janszoon. 24 kākā been have released into the Abel Tasman National Park in the hope they will breed and become a permanent feature in the Pa... 
Te Manahuna Aoraki predator trapping yields some surprises
Ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats, hedgehogs and feral cats almost as big as labrador dogs! The first predator trapping statistics have been released from NEXT supported environmental initiative Te Ma...
Strategic philanthropy – helping bring back the birdsong – By Lou Sanson – DOC Director General
Recently on a weekend I had the good fortune to walk from Awaroa Hut to Anchorage Hut in Abel Tasman National Park. It was mid- winter but glorious sun. What I couldn’t believe was the sounds of bellb...