NZ 2022 fantail

Native birds thriving on Miramar Peninsula

NZ 2022 MarlboroughSound

Marine heatwaves kill fishery salmon

NZ 2022 crayfish

Ancestral Māori knowledge helps remove invasive lake weeds

NZ 2022 kakapo

Highest number of endangered kakapo parrots since 1970s

NZ 2021 HaurakiGulf

New fishing restrictions in Hauraki Gulf protect threatened areas

NZ 2020 crayfish

Kōura/crayfish "functionally extinct" in the Gulf

NZ 2016 GulfMarineParkMap

Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari Plan proposed

NZ 2016 stoat

New Zealand announces plan to eradicate invasive predators

NZ 2015 mauisdolphin

Maui's dolphin population slips below 50

NZ 2014 possum

Invasive species threat to native fauna is a "major crisis"

NZ 2012 rat

Predator-free movement sparked by renowned physicist Paul Callaghan

NZ 2007 hectorsdolphin

"When Hector’s dolphins are well, so too are our coasts"

NZ 2007 Fiordlandpenguin

State of the Environment report

NZ 2005 MatauraRiver

Mataura River becomes site of first mātaitai (customary fisheries) reserve

NZ 2002 tuatara

One of the highest extinction rates in the world

NZ 2001 westlandTaiPoutini

Tangata whenua, people of the land

NZ 2000 HaurakiGulfMarinePark

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act

NZ 1996 Rakiura

Fisheries Act

NZ 1995 kakapo

Kakapo Recovery Program established

NZ 1991 LindisPass

Resource Management Act

NZ 1986 kea

Kea gains protection status 

NZ 1978 whale

Whale hunting in New Zealand waters made illegal

NZ 1977 benmoredam

Opposition to government's proposal to largest dam in New Zealand

NZ 1976 beautifulcreatures

"my first sight of the beautiful creatures was in death"

NZ 1971 HawkesBay

Marine Reserves Act

NZ 1960s rapiddecline

Rapid decline of Maui's and Hector dolphins due to netting

NZ 1868 kea

150,000 kea killed by farmers protecting sheep

NZ 1960 LakeManapouri

J.T. Salmon's Heritage Destroyed sparks mass movement to save Lake Manapōuri

NZ 1947 Karapiro

Karapiro scheme completed 

NZ 1945 erosion

Soil erosion "creating naked earth"

NZ 1941 HuttRiver

Pollution of the Hutt River

NZ 1941 roaderosion

Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act

NZ 1938 riverpollution

River pollution

NZ 1938 flooddebris

Major floods in Gisborne

NZ 1923 grayling

Last confirmed sighting of a grayling

NZ 1921 hectorsdolphin

Hector's dolphin from bow of the ship

NZ 1918-1939 rabbitskins

Explosion of rabbit populations on South Island

NZ 1914 LaughingOwl

Last recorded Laughing Owl found dead

NZ 1913 dairyfarm

Kahitatea forest land deemed rich for dairy farming

NZ 1909 deforestation

Deforestation goes unchecked

NZ 1903 thermalspring

Scenery Preservation Act passed

NZ 1889 kahikatea

Virgin kahikatea forests

NZ 1889 swamp

Swamps "sweet and clear"

NZ 1887 PuhipuhiForestRegeneration

Fire destroys almost 5000 acres of kauri forest

NZ 1885 grayling

Upokororo/grayling

NZ 1884 fishing

Fisheries Conservation Act

NZ 1880s burnings

Tussock burning practices show negative effects

NZ 1877 grayling

Grayling scarce due to introduction of trout

NZ 1874 forestwaterfall

New Zealand Forests Bill passed

NZ 1869 rabbit

A variety of pests, including rabbits, introduced 

NZ 1867 fishing

Salmon and Trout Act

NZ 1864 acclimatisationsociety

Acclimatisation Society begins in Otago

NZ 1859 WaikatoRiver

Waikato River rolls "through the most fertile and most beautiful fields" 

NZ 1858 goldfields

Gold Fields Act

NZ 1857 riverfishing

New Zealand rivers destitute of fish

NZ 1852 goldmining

Discovery of gold

NZ 1847 bushfire

Tussock burning by sheep herders 

NZ 1841 scarcely

Scarcely a harbour without whaling establishments

NZ 1840 Treatyofwaitangi

Treaty of Waitangi

NZ 1838 whaling

Whale harpooning

NZ 1837 brushtailpossum

Australian brushtail possum introduced to New Zealand

NZ 1830-1873 burning

Colonial Europeans cause second wave of forest burnings

NZ 1830 whaling

Whaling begins in the Cooks Strait

NZ 1807 wealthabounds

Wealth abounds on the island of New Zealand

NZ 1769 wetland

Calls for New Zealand wetlands to be drained

NZ 1769 canoesonwater

James Cook lands in New Zealand

NZ 1300s burning

Human settlement clears 40% of existing forest cover

NZ 1300s moaskeleton

Colonization leads to extinctions of New Zealand wildlife 

NZ 1300s moalost

"Lost as the moa was lost"

NZ 1280 moa

The Māori arrive in New Zealand from East Polynesia

NZ 1200 artifacts

The Legend of Rangi and Papa, the creation of New Zealand

NZ 50000000BCE changinglandscape

The changing landscape of early New Zealand

Oceania, New Zealand

Wetlands

Wetlands – in the form of swamps, fens, lakes, bogs, and estuaries – are home to a large number of the country’s endemic and endangered wildlife. Once covering 2.4 million hectares, 90% of New Zealand’s wetlands have been lost to drainage for agriculture and dairy farming since European colonization. The wetlands hold an importance to the Maori peoples, as they historically have provided Maori with sustenance, building materials, and medicines. The remaining wetlands are considered some of the most threatened ecosystems in New Zealand, with threats including continued drainage, pollution, and invasive species.

Tussock grasslands

Covering about 13% of New Zealand, indigenous grasslands are an important component of the country’s ecology, supporting many species of reptiles and birds. Tussocks are known for their unique ability to collect water, with a single tussock can collect up to half a liter of water each hour from fog alone, 80% of which gets dispersed into soil, which feeds mountain streams. Beginning 10,000 years ago, native tussock grasses have dominated these environments, forming mosaics across the landscape with their clumping growth patterns. The grasslands have shrunk considerably throughout New Zealand’s history due to the use of fire to control the movement of grazing animals and converting the area to pastures, bringing in exotic species that threaten the native tussock. 

Coastal marine habitats

New Zealand’s marine habitats are known as hotspots for biodiversity, home to over 17,000 species, half of which are endemic. Temperatures fluctuate across the country’s waters, from the subtropical Northland to the subantarctic Aucklands, giving rise to such a wide variety of wildlife. These coastal ecosystems boost reefs, canyons, methane seeps, underwater volcanoes, and seamounts. These hotspots face a growing number of threats, endangering its vibrant wildlife, including pollution, overfishing, and climate change.

Southern Alps

The Southern Alps, or Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (the Mirage of the Ocean) is a mountain range that weaves along most of the entire length of New Zealand’s South Island, known for its glaciers and lakes. Many plants have adapted to the mountain’s alpine climate: grasses, shrubs, flowering plants, mosses, and deep-rooted plants dot the landscape. The mountainous region is home to a wide variety of New Zealand’s endemic species, including the rock wren and kea. Climate change has greatly affected the glacial cover of the mountain range, a third of which has melted away due to rising temperatures.

Key Habitats

Biodiversity loss

New Zealand has dealt with major biodiversity loss since humans settled on its land. Initial burnings lead to a major decrease in native forests and a wave of extinctions. Acclimatisation societies in the 1800s introduced a wide variety of foreign species, ultimately threatening native populations which up until that point faced little natural predation. The Grayling, a once plentiful native fish, rapidly declined in the early 1900s. When legislative protection was granted in the 50s the species hadn’t been seen in over 20 years, and is now considered extinct. In the 1960s/70s Maui’s and Hector dolphin populations rapidly declined due to increased netting. About 50,000 were killed during this period. New Zealand has one of the highest extinction rates in the world, with nearly one-third of its native land and freshwater birds lost to extinction. Sixty two percent of ocean-going seabirds are listed as threatened, a high proportion by international standards. Well-known species of concern include the Hector’s dolphin (both subspecies), New Zealand sea lion, southern right whale, Fiordland crested penguin, and New Zealand fairy tern. Fishing Biomass in Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana has decreased by 50% in the last 100 years. Trevally, snapper, shark, and dolphin populations have dramatically decreased in the bay and crayfish/kōura are now considered “functionally extinct.” While major extinction events have plagued history, positive recovery efforts have been made. In 1995 a recovery effort for the flightless kakapo, which faced extreme population decline, was initiated. Today the population, while still extremely small, is at its largest point since the 1970s with 252 birds. Movements to protect marine areas and regulate fishing have helped maintain New Zealand’s unique biodiversity that faces threats from all sides. 

Invasive predators

Invasive species have wreaked havoc on New Zealand’s ecology for centuries. Birds who previously had no major predators were specifically targeted by these new predators. Rats, mustelids, possums, and rabbits were among the species that came in the boats with both Polynesian explorers, and later European colonists. During the 1800s, acclimatisation societies began to form. Acclimatisation Societies hoped to “improve” upon the natural wildlife, but ultimately introduced predators to the islands that lead to the decline and extinction of many native species. Salmon, trout, rabbits, deer, opossum, wallaby, rats, weasels, stoats, and dozens of varieties of birds were all introduced. Sheep herding, another output of species introductions, lead to the practice of tussock burning throughout the country. By burning the native grasses, farmers were able to provide more adequate feed to their sheep, but simultaneously contributed to a growing soil erosion problem. Today, over 20% of New Zealand’s birds that made the country their home at the arrival of the Polynesians have gone extinct. Predator Free movements, sparked by renowned physicist Paul Callaghan, have been organized to combat this issue in New Zealand and plans to eliminate rats, stoats, and possums from the country by 2050.	

Climate change

With the rise of droughts, fire, heatwaves, and other natural disasters as a result of growing temperatures, climate change has become a growing ecological concern for New Zealand ecosystems. Growing temperatures have been detrimental to wildlife across habitats, many species unable to adapt to abnormal temperatures and invasive species taking their place. The effects of climate change can be seen in the iconic montane regions of New Zealand, as glacial melting has rapidly increased in recent years. This not only alters the landscape, but threatens an important source of freshwater for much of the South Island and cuts off a critical defense against drought. Many scientists warn that these glaciers could disappear within the decade.

Soil degradation

In the 1800s, sheep herding became a lucrative industry. In order to provide adequate feed for their sheep, farmers would regularly burn native tussock lands in order to stimulate the new growth of grasses. Over time, this practice damaged the natural ecosystem of the grasslands, leading to major soil erosion. Another introduced species, the rabbit, exploded across the nation. Rabbit populations would burrow in hillsides, weakening the land and soil integrity. Major floods like the Kõpuawhara disaster in 1938, which led to the loss of 21 lives, showed the consequences of soil erosion and extreme weather. As a direct reaction, the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act was passed in 1941. The legislative body had concluded that soil erosion had reached a serious stage, and if uncontrolled would accelerate rapidly. Through proper management the problem of soil erosion no longer threatens the habitat like it once did, but is a clear example of how human practices and foreign species can easily degrade the natural landscape. 

Water pollution


Despite New Zealand’s image as “clean and green”, the country has faced growing pollution problems, particularly from industry and plastic. Its freshwater rivers are among the developed world’s most polluted waters. Dairy farming and large-scale irrigation have been identified as a major culprits to pollution, growing in severity since the 1980s. Pollution not only poses a major threat to human health, contaminating some of the country’s most popular swimming holes, but is harmful to wildlife. As surface feeders, turtles and endemic seabirds are known to ingest plastic, causing them to starve. Nutrient pollution has also caused lethal algal blooms to rise through New Zealand waters, threatening shellfish and other wildlife. In recent years, Māori iwis (tribes) have sought authority and autonomy over the waterways in their tribal areas in effort to protect these sacred rivers from pollution. 

Most Pressing Issues

The Nature Conservancy

With two-thirds of its plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, Aotearoa New Zealand is a place of global conservation significance. We are working to support the conservation aspirations of New Zealanders to protect this special place for future generations.

Project Janszoon

We’re working with the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, the Department of Conservation, iwi -Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa – and the community to restore the park’s rich wildlife. Together we’re getting rid of pests and weeds, bringing back native wildlife and bush, and inspiring a culture of care for the Abel Tasman.


Friends of Flora

The objective of the society is to implement, in partnership with the Department of Conservation, a conservation strategy to bring about the protection and/or return of endangered and threatened flora and fauna to the Flora Stream catchment area in Kahurangi National Park. This will enhance the experience for all visitors to this popular area, resulting in wider community appreciation and use of the Park.

The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the largest fenced Sanctuary for endangered plants and creatures in the South Island. We are working to bring nature back to Nelson, Te Tau Ihu (the top of the South Island) and New Zealand via a wildlife sanctuary on Nelson city’s doorstep.


How You Can Help

New Zealand