Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand

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This is timeline is incomplete. It is an ongoing project.

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

 

Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand
pre 1800s 1800s 1840s 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

 

[edit] Pre 1800s

• Arrival of Māori.
• 900s — Kiore rat introduced by Māori settlers [1].
• 1500s — 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 [2].
• 1790s — Sealers and Whalers arrive.

[edit] 1800s

• Gorse introduced as hedging plant.
• Rabbits introduced [3].
• Sheep and cattle introduced.

[edit] 1830s

• 1837 Australian brush-tailed possum introduced.

[edit] 1840s

• 1840 Treaty of Waitangi

[edit] 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.[4]
• 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".[5]
• 1867
  • Trout and Salmon Protection Act passed - made provision for "the preservation and propagation of Salmon and Trout in this Colony".[6]

[edit] 1870s

• Ship rat spreads throughout 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.[7]
• 1876
  • Rabbit Nuisance Act passed.[8]
• 1879
  • Ferrets introduced to control rabbits even after warnings were made of their effects on bird life.

[edit] 1880s

• 1882
  • Small Birds Nuisance Act passed [9]
• 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.

[edit] 1890s

• 1890
  • An area of land, that will become the Trounson Kauri Park, is set aside by the Government. [10]
• 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 1930s

• 1936
  • Protection removed from mustelids.

[edit] 1940s

• 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.

[edit] 1950s

• 1952
  • Waipoua Forest Sanctuary formed.
  • Fiordland National Park established.
• 1953
  • Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park established.
  • Wildlife Act 1953 is passed.
• 1954
  • 28 July—Te Urewera National Park gazetted. Additions made later. [11]

[edit] 1960s

• 1964
  • Mount Aspiring National Park established.
• 1965
  • Hydro dam proposed at Tuapeka River mouth is opposed by local residents. [12]
• 1967
  • Rudd illegally introduced into New Zealand. [13]
• 1969
  • Save Manapouri Campaign gains nationwide headlines.

[edit] 1970s

• 1970
  • 264,907 New Zealanders, almost 10 percent of the population, sign the Save Manapouri petition
  • EDS formed [14]
• 1971
  • CoEnCo formed [15]
• 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. [16]
• 1976
  • CoEnCo renamed as ECO [17]
• 1977
  • The "Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act" is passed. [18]
  • Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Act set up to encourage the protection of private land from development.
  • Native Forest Action Council presents 341,159 signature petition to Government for forest protection.
  • 23 December—Reserves Act passed (includes provision for Wilderness Areas) [19]
  • 23 December—Wild Animal Control Act passed [20]
• 1978
  • 1 April—Reserves Act comes into force
  • Tree top protest in Pureora Forest.
• 1979
  • Five black robins left but saved from extinction by Don Merton and team.
  • 1 January—Marine Mammals Protection Act came into force.

[edit] 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. [21]
• 1983
  • 1 October—Fisheries Act comes into force (establishes a fishing quota system).
• 1984
  • New Zealand declared nuclear free by 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)) [22]
  • Quota Management System (QMS) introduced to conserve fish stocks within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
  • Kea given full protection.
  • West Coast Accord signed for the protection of portions of native forest from logging.
• 1987
  • Paparoa National Park established.
  • A group of South Island farmers smuggle in RCD (rabbit calicivirus disease) and release it on their farms, after official approval is denied.
  • 1 January—Environment Act comes into force [23]
  • 1 April—Conservation Act comes into force (establishes DoC, Fish and Game)
• 1989
  • 1 June—Trade in Endangered Species Act comes into force (CITES)

[edit] 1990s

• 1990
  • Banning of wood chip exports.
  • Creation of Tongariro National Park World Heritage site. [24]
  • Creation of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. [25]
  • Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is formed. [26]
  • Establishment of the Forest Heritage Fund (later renamed "Nature Heritage Fund").
  • Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award established [27]
• 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. (The Press - 24 August 2004)
• 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 [28]
  • 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. [29]
  • Wild Greens group formed. [30]
  • Zerowaste Trust established. [31]
• 1998
  • Creation of New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands World Heritage site.[32]
• 1999
  • Labour/Alliance coalition Government gains power.
  • New Zealand Department of Conservation publishes "Karst Management Guidelines" to assist with cave and karst protection. [33]
  • Karori Wildlife Sanctuary construction completed, limited public access available.
  • Proposed West Coast ilmenite mine project is abandoned. (The Press - 6 February 1999)

[edit] 2000s

• 2000
  • A gondola is proposed from Lake Wakatipu area to the Milford Sound road.
  • Varroa bee mite discovered in New Zealand. [34]
  • 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. [35]
• 2001
  • Moratorium on new marine farming applications, initially for two years.
  • Forest restoration on the Kapiti Coast. [36]
  • National Plant Pest 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.
• 2002
  • Rakiura National Park established.
  • New Zealand ratifies the Kyoto Protocol.
  • New Zealand Waste Strategy released by the Ministry for the Environment. [37]
  • Ferrets no longer able to be bred, sold or distributed.
  • 25 January — New Zealand Environment magazine launched.
• 2003
  • YHA started a Young Environmentalist programme.
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry for the Environment, and Fonterra sign the Clean Streams Accord. [38]
  • 24 April—New Zealand population tops 4,000,000.
  • 26 May—Campbell Island declared rat free. [39]
  • 5 September New Zealand Environment magazine discontinued.
  • 11 September - Environment Minister addresses pollution in the Rotorua lakes. [40]
  • 31 October—Businessman jailed for clearing native bush (this has set a precident) [41]
• 2004
  • Rock snot, (Didymosphenia geminata), an invasive freshwater weed is found in some New Zealand rivers. [42]
  • Group to proceed with the Milford Gondola.
  • Nitrates an increasing problem in Canterbury's groundwater. [43], [44], [45]
  • Monorail proposed to shorten tourist trip between Queenstown and Milford Sound.
  • Pike River coal mine given go-ahead.
  • Kaikoura Green Globe Conference declaration.
  • Rats successfully eradicated from Raoul Island. [46]
  • 20 January—Two Czech visitors fined for plant smuggling [47]
  • 8 February - 13,000 litre diesel spill in Milford Sound.
  • 12 March—Mount Burnett mining road application turned down. [48]
  • 25 March—Open cast mine proposed at Happy Valley (Cypress Mine). [49]
  • 29 March—Meridian Energy Limited proposed Project Aqua is cancelled. [50]
  • 10 May—Kaikoura Island protected. [51]
  • 17 May—Montréal Protocol comes into force. [52]
  • 11 October—Banded fairy prion returns to Mana Island for nesting, the first successful transfer to another location. (Hundreds of chicks have been moved there from Stephens Island since 2001.) (Porirua City News, 17 November, page 16)
  • 18 October—More invasive plants discovered in Auckland [53]
  • 3 November—PCE releases report on the environmental effects of farming. [54]
  • 31 December—Moratorium on marine farms lifted after the passing of the Aquaculture Reform Bill. [55]
• 2005
  • Non-toxic shot only is to be used for hunting from the 2005 season onwards. [56]
  • 14 March—Application lodged for mining black sands off the west coast of the North Island. [57] [58] [59]
  • 1 April - The Income Tax Act 2004, which makes it easier to claim environmental expenditure, comes into force. [60] [61] [62]
  • 22 April—Landsborough Station purchased. [63]
  • 1 May—Pesticides blamed for killing native frogs. [64]
  • 26 May—Environment Court rules in favour of Solid Energy for the Cypress coal mine. [65] [66] [67]
  • 1 July—Molesworth Station transferred from LINZ to DoC. [68]
  • 28 July— First criminal conviction for killing a fur seal handed down. [69]
  • September - Rock snot found in the Buller River. [70]
  • 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. [71]
• 2006
  • 26 January - New Zealand is rated top in the Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index. [72] [73]
  • 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. [74]
  • 9 April - 12 April - Geckos are stolen from a Christchurch zoo but later recovered. [75] [76]
  • 12 May - An application for proposed aerial walkway in the Hokitika Scenic Reserve is rejected by Department of Conservation. [77]

[edit] See also

• Environmental movement in New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• List of extinct New Zealand animals
• Invasive species in New Zealand

[edit] References

• 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

[edit] 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
• Galbreath, Ross; (1993) Working for Wildlife: A History of the New Zealand Wildlife Service. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Limited. ISBN 0-908912-43-9
• 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 Assosciates 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
• Roche, Michael; (1990) History of New Zealand Forestry. Wellington: GP Print Ltd. ISBN 0-477-00004-5
• Boon, Kevin; (2005) The Forests: Developments in New Zealand History. Waiatarua Publishing. ISBN 1-86963-201-X