GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE CAMBRIDGE IGCSE: ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION - TIMELINE OF NEW ZEALAND ENVIRONMENT. It contains: the timeline of New Zealand environment: 1400 till present.

1. ENVIRONMENTALISM
TIMELINE OF NEW ZEALAND
ENVIRONMENT WITH PHOTOS
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
CAMBRIDGE IGCSE P2

2. TIMELINE OF NZ ENVIRONMENT
The following is a timeline of environmental history of New Zealand.
It includes notable events affecting the natural environment of New Zealand
as a result of human activity.

3. PRE 1700’s
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.

4. 1760’s-1790’s
1769
New Zealand mapped by James
Cook, and the Norway rat believed
to have arrived in New Zealand
aboard his ship, the Endeavour.
Wild boar are believed to have
arrived with Cook, possibly on his
second voyage for trade with the
Māori — called 'Captain Cookers' in
NZ.
1790
European sealers and whalers arrive.

5. 1800 - 1867
1800
Gorse introduced as hedging plant. Rabbits
introduced. Sheep and cattle introduced.
1837
Australian brush-tailed possum introduced.
1860
Ship rat spreads throughout North Island.
Australian magpie introduced.
1861
The Protection of Certain Animals Act passed.
1864 -1867
Wild Birds Protection Act. Trout and Salmon
Protection Act passed.

6. 1870 - 1887 1870
Ship rat spreads throughout the South Island.
Rook introduced from Europe. 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.
1885
Stoats and weasels are liberated as a misguided
attempt to control rabbits.
1887
Te Heuheu Tūkino IV gifts Ruapehu, Tongariro and
Ngauruhoe to people of New Zealand.

7. 1890’s 1890
An area of land, that will become the Trounson
Kauri Park, is set aside by the Government.
1893
Rainbow trout successfully introduced by the
Auckland Acclimatisation Society.
1894
Protection of fur seal population due to
declining numbers.
Lyall's wren becomes extinct, killed by cats.
Tongariro National Park Act passed.
1897
Kapiti Island is designated as an island reserve.

8. 1900’s 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.
1907
Population reached one million.

9. 1920’s
1921
Herbert Guthrie-Smiths Tutira:
The Story of a New Zealand Sheep
Station is published. Animals
Protection and Game Act.
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.

10. 1930-1949 1936
Protection removed from mustelids.
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
Forests Act 1949 is passed.

11. 1950’s
1952
Waipoua Forest Sanctuary formed. Fiordland National Park established. Population
reaches two million.
1953
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park established. The 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.

12. 1960’s
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. Save Manapouri Campaign gains
nationwide headlines.

13. 1970-1973
1970
264,907 New Zealanders, almost 10 percent of the population, sign the Save
Manapouri petition. Environmental Defence Society is formed.
1971
CoEnCo is formed. The Marine Reserves Act 1971 is passed.
1972
The Values Party is formed at Victoria University of Wellington. The Clean Air Act
1972 is passed.
1973
Government decides to put South Island beech forests up for tender for chipping.
Population reaches three million.

14. 1974-1976
1974
Greenpeace New Zealand is formed. The Save Aramoana Campaign is formed.
Project Jonah is established.
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.
An import ban on all whale products is announced by government.
Friends of the Earth New Zealand is formed.
1976
NZ rejoins the International Whaling Commission.

15. 1977-1978
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 — The Wild Animal Control Act is passed.
1978
Tree top protest in Pureora Forest to halt the logging of native forest.
1 April — The Reserves Act 1977 comes into force.

16. 1979
Five black robins left but saved from extinction by Don Merton and team.
The Litter Act 1979 is passed.
1 January — Marine Mammals Protection Act came into force.

17. 1980-1983
1980
Protests over a proposed aluminium smelter at Aramoana. Clyde Dam protests.
Native Forest Restoration Trust established to purchase and protect native forests.
The National Parks Act 1980 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.
The National Government enacts the Clutha Development (Clyde Dam
Empowering) Act 1982 to overturn the High Court case refusing water rights.
1983
Friends of the Earth NZ joins Friends of the Earth International.
1 October — Fisheries Act comes into force (establishes a fishing quota system).

18. 1984-1986
1984
New Zealand's nuclear-free zone declared by the Labour Government.
1985
10 July — Bombing of Rainbow Warrior by French secret agents.
1986
The Environment Act is passed, establishing the Ministry for the Environment (MfE)
and the 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.

19. 1987-1989
1987
Paparoa National Park established.
1 January — Environment Act comes into force.
1 April — Conservation Act 1987 comes into force (establishes DoC, Fish and Game)
1989
The Tasman Accord is signed between Tasman Forestry Ltd environmental groups
and the Government.
1 June — Trade in Endangered Species Act 1989 comes into force (CITES).

20. 1990-1991
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.

21. 1993-1994
1993
Biosecurity Act 1993 is passed. Forests Act 1949 is amended. Forest and Bird
develop the Forest Friendly Awards to classify invasive garden plants. The
Government launches the Environment 2010 Strategy.
9 June — New Zealand Post issues a set of stamps on conservation.
1 July — Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 comes into effect.
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.

22. 1996-1998
1996
Environment Court, formerly called the Planning Tribunal, is constituted by the
Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 with upgraded powers. Kahurangi
National Park gazetted. Fisheries Act 1996 is passed. 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.

23. 1999
Labour/Alliance coalition Government gains power paving the way for protection
of West Coast native forests. DoC 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.

24. 2000
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000 is passed, establishing the Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Authority as a Crown agent.
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.
Forests (West Coast Accord) Act 2000 passed.

25. 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.

26. 2002
Rakiura National Park established.
Labour led government abolishes logging of native trees on public land.
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.

27. 2003
Govt3, a sustainability programme for government department, is established. The
WWF Living Planet report ranks New Zealand fourteenth largest per capita
ecological footprint.
24 April — New Zealand population is estimated to top 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 an 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).

28. 2004
Rock snot, 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. 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.
17 May — Montréal Protocol comes into force.
18 October — More invasive plants discovered in Auckland.
3 November — PCE releases report on the environmental effects of farming.
31 December — Moratorium on marine farms lifted after Aquaculture Reform Bill.

29. 2005
Non-toxic shot only is to be used for waterfowl hunting from the 2005 season onwards.
14 March — Application lodged for mining black sands off the west coast 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 — Protest about damage to Te Tahi Cave when used for adventure racing.
20 December — A tunnel is proposed to link Queenstown and the Milford Sound road.

30. 2006
26 January — New Zealand is rated top in the Pilot 2006 Environmental
Performance Index.
February — The 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.
30 November — Great white sharks will be protected within New Zealand's EEZ
from April 2007.

31. 2007
January — DoC considers that almost 50% of native plants/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 — The proposed tunnel linking Queenstown and Milford Sound is
blocked by the New Zealand Conservation Authority.

32. 2007
The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 is passed.
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 NZ is 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 Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment
Act 2008 is passed, establishing the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

33. 2009-2014
Govt3 is discontinued and the National-led Government announces reforms to the RM Act
2011
June — The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recommends against a
moratorium on 1080, citing the ensuing damage to native forests and animals if such a ban
went ahead.
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.
2012
Concerns about hydraulic fracturing in New Zealand (fracking) are highlighted in the media.
2013
Department of Conservation publishes findings raising concerns about the impact of
introduced trout on native fish.
2014
West Coast Wind-blown Timber (Conservation Lands) Act 2014 passed.