Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand

This is a timeline of environmental history of New Zealand. These events relate to the more notable events affecting the natural environment of New Zealand as a result of human activity.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Pre 1800s

14th century- — Arrival of Māori who brought with them the kiore rat.

16th century — Final extinction of all eleven species of Moa.

1642 — Tasman is first European to reach New Zealand.

1769 — New Zealand mapped by James Cook, and the Norway rat believed to have arrived in New Zealand aboard his ship, the Endeavour.

1790s — Sealers and whalers arrive.

1800s

• Gorse introduced as hedging plant.
• Rabbits introduced
• Sheep and cattle introduced.

1830s

1837 Australian brush-tailed possum introduced.

1840s

1840 Treaty of Waitangi

1860s

• Ship rat spreads throughout North Island.

1860

• Australian Magpie introduced.

1861

• The Protection of Certain Animals Act passed - legislated that: "No Deer of any kind, Hare, Swan, Partridge, English Plover, Rook, Starling, Thrush or Blackbird" could be shot for the rest of the decade.

1864

• Wild Birds Protection Act - legislated that: "No Wild Duck, Paradise Duck, or Pigeon indigenous in the colony shall be hunted, taken, or killed except during the months of April, May, June, and July in any year".

1867

• Trout and Salmon Protection Act passed - made provision for "the preservation and propagation of Salmon and Trout in this Colony".

1870s

• Ship rat spreads throughout the South Island.
• Rook introduced from Europe

1870

• Hedgehogs, which devour large quantities of insects, are introduced.

1875

• Seal hunting restricted to a short annual season.

1876

• Rabbit Nuisance Act passed.

1879

• Ferrets introduced to control rabbits even after warnings were made of their effects on bird life.

1880s

1882

• Small Birds Nuisance Act passed.

1885

• Stoats and weasels are liberated as a misguided attempt to control rabbits.

1887

• 23 September—Te Heuheu gifts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe to people of New Zealand.

1890s

1890

• An area of land, that will become the Trounson Kauri Park, is set aside by the Government. [16]

1893

• Rainbow trout successfully introduced by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society.

1894

• Protection of fur seal population due to declining numbers.
• The Stephens Island Wren is made extinct by the lighthouse keeper's cat.
• Tongariro National Park Act passed.

1897

• Kapiti Island is designated as an island reserve.

1900s

1900

• • Egmont National Park established

1901

• Noxious Weeds Act passed

1903

• Scenery Preservation Act passed.

1904

• Scenery Preservation Commission appointed.

1907

• Tongariro National Park is formally gazetted.
• Last known huia sighted and then shot.

1920s

1921

• Herbert Guthrie-Smiths Tutira: The Story of a New Zealand Sheep Station is published.
• Animals Protection and Game Act 1921-22

1923

• The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand is formed.

1929

• Attempt made to protect bush in an area near what will be the Abel Tasman National Park.

1930s

1936

• Protection removed from mustelids.

1940s

1941

• Soil and Rivers Control Act was enforced. This was the first piece of coordinated environmental legislation in New Zealand.

1942

• Abel Tasman National Park established.

1946

• Possums no longer protected.

1948

• Takahe rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland.

1949

• Forest Act 1949 is passed.

1950s

1952

• Waipoua Forest Sanctuary formed.
• Fiordland National Park established.

1953

• Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park established.
• Wildlife Act 1953 is passed.

1954

• Trials on usage on 1080 in New Zealand begin
• 28 July — Te Urewera National Park gazetted. Additions made later.

1960s

1964

• Mount Aspiring National Park established.

1965

• Hydro dam proposed at Tuapeka River mouth is opposed by local residents.

1967

• Rudd is illegally introduced into New Zealand.

1967

• Water and Soil Conservation Act was enforced.

1969

• Save Manapouri Campaign gains nationwide headlines.

1970s

1970

• 264,907 New Zealanders, almost 10 percent of the population, sign the Save Manapouri petition
• Environmental Defence Society is formed.

1971

• CoEnCo formed

1972

• Values Party formed at Victoria University of Wellington

1973

• Government decides to put South Island beech forests up for tender for chipping.

1974

• Greenpeace New Zealand formed.
• The Save Aramoana Campaign is formed

1975

• 4 July - The Maruia Declaration, calling for protection of native forests, is signed. It attracted 341,160 signatures by the time it was presented to Parliament in 1977.

1976

• CoEnCo renamed as ECO

1977

• The "Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act" is passed.
• Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Act set up to encourage the protection of private land from development.
• 20 July - The Maruia Declaration with a 341,159 signature petition is presented to Government.
• 23 December — The Reserves Act is passed (includes provision for Wilderness Areas)

• 23 December — Wild Animal Control Act passed ]

1978

• Tree top protest in Pureora Forest to halt the logging of native forest.
• 1 April — Reserves Act comes into force

1979

• Five black robins left but saved from extinction by Don Merton and team.
• 1 January — Marine Mammals Protection Act came into force.

1980s

1980

• Protests over a proposed aluminium smelter at Aramoana. See also: Independent State of Aramoana.
• Clyde Dam protests.
• Native Forest Restoration Trust established to purchase and protect native forests.
• The National Parks Act was enforced.

1982

• The approval of the water rights necessary for the high Clyde Dam is overturned on appeal in Gilmore v. National Water and Soil Conservation Authority (1982)
• The National Government enacts the Clutha Development (Clyde Dam Empowering) Act 1982 to overturn the High Court case refusing water rights.

1983

• 1 October — Fisheries Act comes into force (establishes a fishing quota system).

1984

• New Zealand's nuclear-free zone declared by the Labour Government.

1985

• 10 July — Bombing of Rainbow Warrior by French secret agents.

1986

• Environment Act passed (establishes Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE)) ]
• Quota Management System (QMS) introduced to conserve fish stocks within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Kea are given full protection.
• West Coast Accord signed for the protection of portions of native forest from logging.

1987

• Paparoa National Park established.
• 1 January — Environment Act comes into force
• 1 April — Conservation Act comes into force (establishes DoC, Fish and Game)

1989

• The Tasman Accord is signed between Tasman Forestry Ltd environmental goups and the Government.
• 1 June — Trade in Endangered Species Act comes into force (CITES)

1990s

1990

• Banning of wood chip exports.
• Creation of Tongariro National Park World Heritage site.
• Creation of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.]
• Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is formed.
• Establishment of the Forest Heritage Fund (later renamed "Nature Heritage Fund").
• Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award established

1991

• Protests over the mining of ilmenite on the West Coast.
• Resource Management Act 1991 passed into law.
• Crown Minerals Act 1991 is passed.

1993

• Biosecurity Act 1993 is passed.
• Forests Act 1949 is amended.
• Forest and Bird develop the Forest Friendly Awards to classify invasive garden plants.
• 9 June - New Zealand Post issues a set of stamps on conservation.
• 15 November - A West Coast environmentalist claims his house was the target of arson due to his anti-mining stance.

1994

• Rats eradicated from Kapiti Island.
• Resource consent given to mine sand in Mangawhai Harbour.
• Basel Convention comes into force in New Zealand.

1996

• Environment Court, formerly called the Planning Tribunal, is constituted by the RM Amendment Act 1996 with upgraded powers
• Kahurangi National Park gazetted.
• Fisheries Act 1996 is passed (though parts of it come into force only spasmodically over the next few years).
• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 is passed.
• Ozone Protection Layer Act 1996 is passed.

1997

• Native Forest Action commences lobbying to save West Coast forests.
• Wild Greens group formed.
• Zerowaste Trust established.

1998

• Creation of New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands World Heritage site.
• 22 May - New Zealand signs the Kyoto Protocol.

1999

• Labour/Alliance coalition Government gains power paving the way for protection of West Coast native forests.
• New Zealand Department of Conservation publishes "Karst Management Guidelines" to assist with cave and karst protection.
• Karori Wildlife Sanctuary construction completed, limited public access available.
• Proposed West Coast ilmenite mine project is abandoned. (The Press - 6 February 1999)

2000s

2000

• A gondola is proposed from Lake Wakatipu area to the Milford Sound road.
• Varroa bee mite discovered in New Zealand.
• West Coast loop road through conservation land is promoted by group of South Island mayors.
• 15 June Biotech lobby group Life Sciences Network web site goes live. [17]

2001

• Moratorium on new marine farming applications, initially for two years.
• Forest restoration on the Kapiti Coast.
• National Pest Plant Accord is developed to prevent the spread of invasive plants.
• German tourist fined for smuggling a gecko.
• 30 May — Government announces transfer of all Timberlands managed forests to DoC.
• 18 August — Macraes mine extension turned down by Sandra Lee-Vercoe, the Minister of Conservation.
• 21 October - The Waigani Convention came into force.

2002

• Rakiura National Park established.
• New Zealand Waste Strategy released by the Ministry for the Environment.
• Ferrets no longer able to be legally bred, sold or distributed.
• 25 January — New Zealand Environment magazine launched.
• 22 December - New Zealand ratifies the Kyoto Protocol.

2003

• Govt³, a sustainability progeamme for government department, is established
• YHA started a Young Environmentalist programme.
• The WWF Living Planet report ranks New Zealand fourteenth largest per capita ecological footprint.
• 24 April — New Zealand population tops 4,000,000.
• 26 May — Campbell Island declared rat free.
• 26 May — Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry for the Environment, and Fonterra sign the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord.
• June — Consultation is sought on a Agricultural emissions research levy (commonly called the "flatulence tax" or "fart tax").
• 5 September — New Zealand Environment magazine discontinued.
• 11 September - Environment Minister addresses pollution in the Rotorua lakes.
• 31 October — Businessman jailed for clearing native bush (this has set a legal precedent)

2004

• Rock snot, (Didymosphenia geminata), an invasive freshwater weed is found in some New Zealand rivers.
• Group to proceed with the Milford Gondola.
• Nitrates an increasing problem in Canterbury's groundwater.
• Monorail proposed to shorten tourist trip between Queenstown and Milford Sound.
• Pike River mine given go-ahead despite protests by environmental groups.
• Kaikoura Green Globe Conference declaration.
• Rats successfully eradicated from Raoul Island.
• 20 January — Two Czech visitors fined for plant smuggling.
• 8 February - 13,000 litre diesel spill in Milford Sound.
• 12 March — Mount Burnett mining road application turned down.
• 25 March — Cypress mine, an open cast coal mine, is proposed for the West Coast.
• 29 March — Meridian Energy proposed Project Aqua is cancelled.
• 10 May — Kaikoura Island protected. [18]
• 17 May — Montréal Protocol comes into force. [19]
• 18 October — More invasive plants discovered in Auckland [20]
• 3 November — PCE releases report on the environmental effects of farming. [21]
• 31 December — Moratorium on marine farms lifted after the passing of the Aquaculture Reform Bill. [22]

2005

• Non-toxic shot only is to be used for hunting from the 2005 season onwards.
• 14 March — Application lodged for mining black sands off the west coast of the North Island.
• 1 April - The Income Tax Act 2004, which makes it easier to claim environmental expenditure, comes into force.
• 22 April — Landsborough Station purchased.
• 1 May — Pesticides blamed for killing native frogs.
• 26 May — Environment Court rules in favour of Solid Energy for the Cypress mine.
• 1 July — Molesworth Station transferred from LINZ to DoC.
• 28 July — First criminal conviction for killing a fur seal is handed down.
• September - Rock snot found in the Buller River.
• November - Last remaining use of reusable glass milk bottles will end.
• 18 November - Cavers protest about potential damage to Te Tahi Cave when used for adventure racing.
• 20 December - A tunnel is proposed to link Queenstown and the Milford Sound road.

2006

• 26 January - New Zealand is rated top in the Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index.
• February - The New Zealand fishing industry proposes limits on bottom trawling.
• 17 March - Proposal to build a gondola between Queenstown and the Milford Sound road is postponed.
• 8 April - A pipe bomb is used to blow up a conservationists letterbox.
• 9 April - 12 April - Geckos are stolen from a Christchurch zoo but later recovered.
• 12 May - An application for proposed aerial walkway in the Hokitika Scenic Reserve is rejected by Department of Conservation.
• 24 October - The WWF Living Planet report ranks New Zealand with the ninth largest per capita ecological footprint. [23] [24]
• 30 November - Great white sharks will be protected within New Zealand's EEZ from April 2007. [25]

2007

• January - DoC considers that almost half of the native plants and animals are threatened.
• 20 February - Wa$ted!, a programme investigating household sustainability, begins a two season run on New Zealand television.
• 23 March - Prime Minister Helen Clark puts forward aspirations for New Zealand to be the first sustainable country.
• 4 April - the OECD releases a report on the performance of the New Zealand Government.
• 4 April - Bottom trawling is prohibited in selected areas.
• 30 May - Government gives $9.88 million to clean up the Tui mine tailings site.
• 30 November - the orange roughy fishery is closed to allow stocks of the fish to recover.
• 13 December - a proposed tunnel linking Queenstown and Milford Sound is blocked by the New Zealand Conservation Authority.

2008

• 31 January - Environment New Zealand 2007, a State of the Environment report, is released.
• 10 February - The Green Party leak Chapter 13 of Environment New Zealand 2007 State of the environment report, which slates the dairy industry and the high level of consumption in New Zealand.
• 20 February - A survey shows that 53% of New Zealanders' are deeply concerned that we are not doing enough to protect the environment.
• 4 March - The World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report rates New Zealand at 24 out of 130 countries for environmental sustainability.
• April - greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand are 26% higher than 1990 levels, the required level for the Kyoto Protocol.
• 10 September - the government passes the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill

2009

• Govt³ is discontinued.
• 3 February - the National-led Government announces reforms to the Resource Management Act

2010

2011

• 1 July - the Environmental Protection Authority begins operation.
• 5 October - the container ship Rena runs aground on Astrolabe Reef, 12 nautical miles off Tauranga, resulting in New Zealand's worst oil spill.

See also

• Timeline of environmental events
• Timeline of New Zealand history

Bibliography

• King, Carolyn; (1984) Immigrant Killers. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558121-0
• Young, David; (2004) Our Islands, Our Selves. Dunedin: University of Otago Press. ISBN 1-877276-94-4
• Galbreath, Ross; (1993) Working for Wildlife: A History of the New Zealand Wildlife Service. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Limited. ISBN 0-908912-43-9

Further reading

• King, Carolyn; (1984) Immigrant Killers. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558121-0
• Young, David; (2004) Our Islands, Our Selves. Dunedin: University of Otago Press. ISBN 1-877276-94-4
• Bührs, T. and Bartlett, R.V.; (1993) Environmental policy in New Zealand: The politics of clean & green?. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558284-5
• Cant, Garth and Kirkpatrick, Russell (eds.); (2001) Rural Canterbury: Celebrating its History. Wellington: Daphne Brasell Associates Ltd. ISBN 0-909049-34-3
• Pawson, Eric and Booking, Tom (eds.); (2002) Environmental Histories of New Zealand. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558421-X