An investigation into a privacy bungle revealed a cascade of missteps by the Department of Conservation.

The department commissioned a series of reports into the disastrous summer of 2016/17 during which 25 kiwi died at a privately owned wildlife creche, Cape Sanctuary, in Hawkes Bay. The ultimate report into the incident, penned by former chief censor David Shanks, was released publicly in 2023, and was the subject of a two–part story by Newsroom.

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David Williams is Newsroom’s environment editor, South Island correspondent and investigative writer.
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