Timeline Of Environmental History Of New Zealand

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.

:

Pre 1800s - 1800s - 1830s - 1840s - 1850s - 1860s - 1870s - 1890s - 1900s - 1910s - 1920s - 1930s - 1940s - 1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - 2000s See Also - References - Further Reading

__NOTOC__

PRE 1800S

1300s- — Arrival of Māori who brought the with them the Kiore rat.

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 {Link without Title} .

1790s — Sealers and whalers arrive.

1800S

Gorse introduced as hedging plant.

Rabbits introduced {Link without Title} .

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. {Link without Title}

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". {Link without Title}

1867

---Trout and Salmon Protection Act passed - made provision for "the preservation and propagation of Salmon and Trout in this Colony". {Link without Title}

1870S

Ship rat spreads throughout the South Island .

Rook introduced from Europe

1870

--- Hedgehog s, which devour large quantities of Insect s, are introduced.

1875

---Seal hunting restricted to a short annual season. {Link without Title}

1876

---Rabbit Nuisance Act passed. {Link without Title}

1879

--- Ferret s introduced to control Rabbit s even after warnings were made of their effects on bird life.

1880S

1882

--- Small Birds Nuisance Act passed {Link without Title}

1885

--- Stoat s and Weasel s 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. {Link without Title}

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-Smith s ''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 Mustelid s.

1940S

1942

--- Abel Tasman National Park established.

1946

--- Possum s 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

--- 28 July — Te Urewera National Park gazetted. Additions made later. {Link without Title}

1960S

1964

--- Mount Aspiring National Park established.

1965

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

1967

--- Rudd illegally introduced into New Zealand. {Link without Title}

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. {Link without Title}

1971

--- CoEnCo formed {Link without Title}

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. {Link without Title}

1976

---CoEnCo renamed as ECO {Link without Title}

1977

---The "Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act" is passed. {Link without Title}

---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) {Link without Title}

--- 23 December —Wild Animal Control Act passed {Link without Title}

1978

--- 1 April —Reserves Act comes into force

---Tree top protest in Pureora Forest.

1979

---Five Black Robin s 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 ''.

--- Clyde Dam protests.

--- Native Forest Restoration Trust established to purchase and protect native forests. {Link without Title}

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) ) {Link without Title}

--- 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.

--- 1 January — Environment Act comes into force {Link without Title}

--- 1 April — Conservation Act comes into force (establishes DoC, Fish and Game)

1989

--- 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. {Link without Title}

---Creation of Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. {Link without Title}

--- Green Party Of Aotearoa New Zealand is formed. {Link without Title}

---Establishment of the Forest Heritage Fund (later renamed " Nature Heritage Fund ").

---Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award established {Link without Title}

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 {Link without Title}

--- 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. {Link without Title}

---Wild Greens group formed. {Link without Title}

---Zerowaste Trust established. {Link without Title}

1998

---Creation of New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands World Heritage site. {Link without Title}

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. {Link without Title}

--- 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. {Link without Title}

---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. {Link without Title}

2001

---Moratorium on new Marine Farming applications, initially for two years.

---Forest restoration on the Kapiti Coast . {Link without Title}

--- 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 . {Link without Title}

--- Ferret s 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 . {Link without Title}

---The WWF ''Living Planet'' report ranks New Zealand fourteenth largest per capita Ecological Footprint . {Link without Title}

--- 24 April —New Zealand population tops 4,000,000.

--- 26 May — Campbell Island declared Rat free. {Link without Title}

--- 5 September ''New Zealand Environment'' magazine discontinued.

--- 11 September - Environment Minister addresses pollution in the Rotorua lakes. {Link without Title}

--- 31 October — Businessman jailed for clearing native Bush (this has set a precedent) {Link without Title}

2004

---''Rock snot'', ('' Didymosphenia Geminata ''), an invasive freshwater weed is found in some New Zealand rivers. {Link without Title}

---Group to proceed with the Milford Gondola .

--- Nitrate s an increasing problem in Canterbury's groundwater. [http://ecan.govt.nz/About-Us/Media-Releases/news.asp?Id=501 , [http://ecan.govt.nz/About-Us/Media-Releases/news.asp?Id=493]

--- Monorail proposed to shorten tourist trip between Queenstown and Milford Sound .

--- Pike River coal mine given go-ahead.

--- Kaikoura Green Globe Conference declaration.

--- Rat s successfully eradicated from Raoul Island . {Link without Title}

--- 20 January —Two Czech visitors fined for plant smuggling {Link without Title}

--- 8 February - 13,000 litre diesel spill in Milford Sound .

--- 12 March — Mount Burnett mining road application turned down. {Link without Title}

--- 25 March —Open cast mine proposed at Happy Valley (Cypress Mine). {Link without Title}

--- 29 March — Meridian Energy Limited proposed Project Aqua is cancelled. {Link without Title}

--- 10 May — Kaikoura Island protected. {Link without Title}

--- 17 May — Montréal Protocol comes into force. {Link without Title}

--- 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 {Link without Title}

--- 3 November — PCE releases report on the environmental effects of farming. {Link without Title}

--- 31 December —Moratorium on marine farms lifted after the passing of the Aquaculture Reform Bill. {Link without Title}

2005

---Non-toxic shot only is to be used for hunting from the 2005 season onwards. {Link without Title}

--- 14 March —Application lodged for mining black sands off the west coast of the North Island . [http://www.option4.co.nz/Marine_Protection/wcmining.htm [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10115097]

--- 1 April - The Income Tax Act 2004, which makes it easier to claim environmental expenditure, comes into force. [http://www.ird.govt.nz/resources/file/ebe0974571cfebb/TIB17-7.pdf [http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/land/infosheet-environment-tax-changes-oct05/infosheet-environment-tax-changes-oct05.html]

--- 22 April —Landsborough Station purchased. {Link without Title}

--- 1 May — Pesticide s blamed for killing native Frog s.

--- 26 May —Environment Court rules in favour of Solid Energy for the Cypress coal mine. [http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/mediarelease/2005/0526_dismaldecisioncypress.asp [http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR8720.html]

--- 1 July — Molesworth Station transferred from LINZ to DoC . {Link without Title}

--- 28 July — First criminal conviction for killing a Fur Seal handed down.

---September - '' Rock Snot '' found in the Buller River . {Link without Title}

---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. {Link without Title}

2006

---26 January - New Zealand is rated top in the Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index . {Link without Title}

---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 Conservationist s letterbox. {Link without Title}

---9 April - 12 April - Gecko s 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 catita Ecological Footprint . [http://www.panda.org/news_facts/publications/living_planet_report/lp_2006/index.cfm

---30 November - Great White Shark s will be protected within New Zealands EEZ from April 2007. {Link without Title}

2007

---January - DoC considers that almost half of the native plants and animals are threatened. {Link without Title}

---23 March - Prime Minister Helen Clark puts forward aspirations for New Zealand to be the first sustainable country. {Link without Title}

---4 April - OECD releases a report on the performance of the New Zealand Government . {Link without Title}

---4 April - Bottom Trawling prohibited in selected areas. {Link without Title}

	CATEGORIES ABOUT TIMELINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND

	environment of new zealand

	nation timelines

	new zealand

	new zealand-related lists

	APPAREL
	BABY
	BEAUTY
	BOOKS
	CAR TOYS
	CELL PHONES
	DVD'S
	ELECTRONICS
	GOURMET FOOD
	GROCERIES
	HEALTH & PERSONAL
	HOME & GARDEN
	JEWELRY
	MUSIC
	MUSIC INSTRUMENTS
	OFFICE PRODUCTS
	SOFTWARE
	SPORTING GOODS
	TOOLS & HARDWARE
	TOYS
	VIDEO GAMES
	SHOPPING HOME

	MORE SHOPPING...

Information About

Timeline Of Environmental History Of New Zealand