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This September, leaders at the forefront of taiao restoration will gather in Kirikiriroa Hamilton for the first ever Endangered Species National Hui.

The Fisheries Amendment Bill strips environmental protections from how commercial fishing catch limits are set. It locks in catch settings for up to five years with minimal public input. It hides onboard camera footage from the public - the same cameras that revealed dolphin bycatch was 680 times higher than the fishing industry had self-reported.

Aotearoa freshwater fish are in crisis, with 76% threatened or at risk of extinction. Species like tuna and īnanga rely on connected waterways to survive, yet barriers, habitat loss and degraded rivers are driving decline. Restoring river connectivity, protecting habitats, and supporting iwi-led solutions are critical to ensuring these taonga species can complete their lifecycles and thrive.

For Conservation Week, ESF General Manager Natalie Jessup was guest editor of the Sustainable Future newsletter from Newsroom Aotearoa.

The Endangered Species National Hui 2026 is inviting iwi, rangatahi, scientists and community leaders to Kirikiriroa Hamilton this September, and Co-Chair Tāwera Nikau says the timing is critical.

A national hui bringing together iwi, communities, scientists, creatives and advocates will take place in Kirikiriroa this September, responding to the accelerating crisis facing Aotearoa’s most endangered taonga species and their habitats. The Endangered Species National Hui 2026, hosted by Tāngaro Tuia te Ora – Endangered Species Foundation (ESF), will be held on 2–3 September at Wintec, Hamilton, and is focused on moving from collaboration and kōrero, through to collecti