Can we eat this environmental problem?

They’re not exactly renowned for being tasty, but we definitely have too many of them. Kina, or sea urchins, are a delicacy in some parts of the world, but so far, we haven’t been able to export ours: they’ve got a weird flavour.

But we might be able to change that. Now, a start-up is experimenting with capturing kina and feeding them a special diet in order to improve the way they taste. Can we turn them from “ewwwww” into “exquisite”? Perhaps, says a panel of chefs.

Meanwhile, kina are causing problems along our coastlines. Where snapper and crayfish are few, kina are out of control: they’re sharp-toothed omnivores that eat just about everything in their path. They’ve denuded the seafloor of kelp in many spots, which means that other marine animals can’t get a foothold in life.

Fortunately, these “kina barrens” are reversible, too. We just have to get rid of the extra kina. Keep reading...

Last chance to vote in Bird of the Century

Voting for New Zealand’s next top bird closes this Sunday. Over the last week, US comedian John Oliver stuck his oar into Bird of the Century, attempting to stack the competition with an overwhelming deluge of foreign votes for his bird of choice, the pūteketeke or Australasian grebe.

Not sure who to vote for? We’ve collected all our bird stories in one spot, including yarns about some of our lesser-known avian neighbours. Perhaps we could interest you in a royal spoonbill? A black stilt? A kākāriki karaka? Some dinosaur birds that are sadly no longer alive? The polyamorous antics of takahē? Or perhaps a bat? Keep reading...

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A fine balance

Ever since Les and Olive Hutchins founded their tourism business in Fiordland in 1954, the goal of the company has been to share the heritage and beauty of the southern region with their guests and inspire them to help preserve it. Almost 70 years later, RealNZ is still creating a balance between exploration, education and environmental protection. Keep reading... 

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Curlers find an unusual home in Canada

It might seem like an odd time of year for a story about curling, but this is a particularly good one. Four New Zealand men hoping to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics have moved to the world capital of curling in order to immerse themselves in the sport: Calgary, Canada.

In order to fund their stay, they’ve found a low-cost place to live: a retirement home. Now, their octogenarian flatmates turn up at competitions to cheer them on.

Curling has a long history in Otago, but climate change is making it difficult to continue traditions such as the bonspiel: a national championship which takes place only if an outdoor rink freezes over. There hasn’t been one since 2015. Keep reading...