This is atimeline of environmental history of New Zealand. It includes notable events affecting thenaturalenvironment of New Zealand as a result ofhuman activity.

14th century-

• Arrival ofMāori who brought with them thekiore rat.

16th century

• Final extinction of all eleven species ofmoa.

1642

• Tasman is first European to reach New Zealand.

1769

• New Zealand mapped byJames Cook, and theNorway rat believed to have arrived in New Zealand aboard his ship, theEndeavour.^[1]Feral pigs – called "Captain Cookers" in New Zealand – possibly arrived with Cook in the course of visits to New Zealand (1773-1774) during hissecond voyage (1772-1775).

• Europeansealers andwhalers arrive.

• Gorse introduced as hedging plant.
• Rabbits introduced.^[2]
• Sheep andcattle introduced.

1837

• Australian brush-tailed possum introduced.

1840

• Treaty of Waitangi

• 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.^[3]

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".^[3]

1867

• Trout and Salmon Protection Act passed - made provision for "the preservation and propagation of Salmon and Trout in this Colony".^[3]

• Ship rat spreads throughout theSouth Island.
• Rook introduced fromEurope

1870

• Hedgehogs, which devour large quantities ofinsects, are introduced.

1875

• Seal hunting restricted to a short annual season.^[3]

1876

• Rabbit Nuisance Act passed.^[3]

1879

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

1882

• Small Birds Nuisance Act passed.^[3]

1884

• One hundredstoat andweasel were caught inLincolnshire, England for shipment to New Zealand. The passage is expected to take 45 days and 1,500 live pigeons were also shipped for their consumption.^[4]

1885

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

1887

• 23 September —Te Heuheu Tūkino IV giftsRuapehu,Tongariro andNgauruhoe to people of New Zealand.

1890

• An area of land, that will become the Trounson Kauri Park, is set aside by the Government.[2]

1893

• Rainbow trout successfully introduced by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society.

1894

• Protection offur 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.

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 knownhuia sighted and then shot.

1907

• Population reached one million.^[5]

1921

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

1923

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

1929

• Attempt made to protectbush in an area near what will be theAbel Tasman National Park.

1936

• Protection removed frommustelids.

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

• Takahē rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains inFiordland.

1949

• Forests Act 1949 is passed.

1952

• Waipoua Forest Sanctuary formed.
• Fiordland National Park established.
• Population reaches two million.^[5]

1953

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

1954

• Trials onusage on 1080 in New Zealand begin.
• 28 July —Te Urewera National Park gazetted. Additions made later.^[6]

1964

• Mount Aspiring National Park established.

1965

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

1967

• Rudd is illegally introduced into New Zealand.^[7]

1967

• Water and Soil Conservation Act was enforced.
• Save Manapouri Campaign gains nationwide headlines.

1970

• 264,907 New Zealanders, almost 10 percent of the population, sign theSave Manapouri petition.
• Environmental Defence Society is formed.^[8]

1971

• CoEnCo is formed.^[9]
• TheMarine Reserves Act 1971 is passed.

1972

• TheValues Party is formed atVictoria University of Wellington.
• TheClean Air Act 1972 is passed.

1973

• Government decides to putSouth Islandbeech forests up for tender for chipping.
• Population reaches three million.^[5]

1974

• Greenpeace New Zealand is formed.^[10]
• TheSave Aramoana Campaign is formed.
• Project Jonah is established.

1975

• 4 July — TheMaruia 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.
• TheTreaty of Waitangi Act 1975 is passed in Government and theWaitangi Tribunal is established.

1976

• CoEnCo renamed asECO.^[9]
• NZ rejoins theInternational Whaling Commission.

1977

• The "Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act" is passed.^[11]
• Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Act set up to encourage the protection of private land from development.
• 20 July — TheMaruia Declaration with a 341,159 signature petition is presented to Government.
• 23 December — TheReserves Act is passed (includes provision for Wilderness Areas).^[12]
• 23 December — TheWild Animal Control Act is passed.^[13]

1978

• Tree top protest in Pureora Forest to halt the logging of native forest.
• 1 April — The Reserves Act 1977 comes into force.

1979

• Fiveblack robins left but saved from extinction byDon Merton and team.
• TheLitter Act 1979 is passed.
• 1 January —Marine Mammals Protection Act came into force.

1980

• Protests over a proposed aluminium smelter atAramoana (See also:Independent State of Aramoana)
• Clyde Dam protests.
• Native Forest Restoration Trust established to purchase and protect native forests.^[14]
• TheNational Parks Act 1980 was enforced.

1982

• The approval of the water rights necessary for the highClyde Dam is overturned on appeal inGilmore v. National Water and Soil Conservation Authority (1982)^[15]
• The National Government enacts theClutha Development (Clyde Dam Empowering) Act 1982 to overturn the High Court case refusing water rights.^[15]

1983

• Friends of the Earth NZ joinsFriends of the Earth International.
• 1 October —Fisheries Act comes into force (establishes a fishing quota system).

1984

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

1985

• 10 July — Bombing ofRainbow Warrior byFrench secret agents.

1986

• TheEnvironment Act is passed, establishing theMinistry for the Environment (MfE) and theParliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE).^[16]
• Quota Management System (QMS) introduced to conserve fish stocks within theExclusive 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^[12]
• 1 April —Conservation Act 1987 comes into force (establishes DoC, Fish and Game)

1989

• TheTasman Accord is signed between Tasman Forestry Ltd environmental groups and the Government.
• 1 June —Trade in Endangered Species Act 1989 comes into force (CITES)

1990

• Banning ofwood chip exports.
• Creation ofTongariro National ParkWorld Heritage site.^[17]
• Creation ofTe WahipounamuWorld Heritage site.^[17]
• Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is formed.^[18]
• Establishment of the Forest Heritage Fund (later renamed "Nature Heritage Fund").
• Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award established^[19]

1991

• Protests over the mining ofilmenite on theWest 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 classifyinvasive garden plants.
• The Government launches the Environment 2010 Strategy
• 9 June —New Zealand Post issues a set of stamps onconservation.
• 1 July —Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 comes into effect.
• 15 November — AWest Coast environmentalist claims his house was the target of arson due to his anti-mining stance.^[20]

1994

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

1996

• Environment Court, formerly called the Planning Tribunal, is constituted by the Resource Management Amendment Act 1996 with upgraded powers^[21]
• 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 saveWest Coast forests.^[22]
• Wild Greens group formed.^[23]
• Zerowaste Trust established.^[24]

1998

• Creation of New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands World Heritage site.^[17]
• 22 May — New Zealandsigns the Kyoto Protocol.

1999

• Labour/Alliancecoalition Government gains power paving the way for protection ofWest Coast native forests.
• DoC publishes "Karst Management Guidelines" to assist withcave andkarst protection.^[25]
• Karori Wildlife Sanctuary construction completed, limited public access available.
• Proposed West Coastilmenite mine project is abandoned. (The Press — 6 February 1999)

2000

• TheEnergy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000 is passed, establishing theEnergy Efficiency and Conservation Authority as aCrown agent.
• A gondola is proposed fromLake Wakatipu area to theMilford Sound road.
• Varroa bee mite discovered in New Zealand.^[26]
• 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.[3]
• Forests (West Coast Accord) Act 2000 passed

2001

• Moratorium on newmarine farming applications, initially for two years.
• Forest restoration on theKāpiti Coast.^[27]
• National Pest Plant Accord is developed to prevent the spread ofinvasive plants.
• German tourist fined for smuggling agecko.
• 30 May — Government announces transfer of allTimberlands managed forests toDoC.
• 18 August — Macraes mine extension turned down bySandra Lee-Vercoe, the Minister of Conservation.
• 21 October — TheWaigani Convention came into force.

2002

• Rakiura National Park established.
• Labour led government abolishes logging of native trees on public land.
• Waste Strategy released by theMinistry for the Environment.^[28]
• Ferrets no longer able to be legally bred, sold or distributed.
• 25 January —New Zealand Environment magazine launched.
• 22 December — New Zealandratifies the Kyoto Protocol.

2003

• Govt³, a sustainability programme for government department, is established
• YHA NZ started aYoung Environmentalist programme.
• TheWWFLiving Planet report ranks New Zealand fourteenth largest per capitaecological footprint.^[29]
• 24 April — New Zealand population is estimated to top 4,000,000.^[5]
• 26 May —Campbell Island declaredrat free.^[30]
• 26 May —Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,Ministry for the Environment, andFonterra sign theDairying and Clean Streams Accord.^[31]
• June — Consultation is sought on anAgricultural 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 theRotorua lakes.^[32]
• 31 October — Businessman jailed for clearing nativebush (this has set a legal precedent)^[33]

2004

• Rock snot, (Didymosphenia geminata), an invasive freshwater weed is found in some New Zealand rivers.^[34]
• Group to proceed with the MilfordGondola.
• Nitrates an increasing problem inCanterbury's groundwater.^[35][36][37]
• Monorail proposed to shorten tourist trip betweenQueenstown andMilford Sound.
• Pike River mine given go-ahead despite protests by environmental groups.
• KaikōuraGreen Globe Conference declaration.
• Rats successfully eradicated fromRaoul Island.^[38]
• 20 January — Two Czech visitors fined for plant smuggling.
• 8 February — 13,000-litre diesel spill inMilford Sound.
• 12 March —Mount Burnett mining road application turned down.^[39]
• 25 March —Cypress mine, an open cast coal mine, is proposed for theWest Coast.
• 29 March —Meridian Energy proposedProject Aqua is cancelled.^[40]
• 10 May —Kaikōura Island protected.[4]
• 17 May —Montréal Protocol comes into force.[5]
• 18 October — More invasive plants discovered inAuckland[6]
• 3 November —PCE releases report on the environmental effects of farming.[7]
• 31 December — Moratorium on marine farms lifted after the passing of the Aquaculture Reform Bill.[8]

2005

• Non-toxic shot only is to be used for waterfowl hunting from the 2005 season onwards.^[41]
• 14 March — Application lodged for mining black sands off the west coast of theNorth Island.^[42][43][44]
• 1 April - The Income Tax Act 2004, which makes it easier to claim environmental expenditure, comes into force.^[45][46][47]
• 22 April — Landsborough Station purchased.^[48]
• 1 May —Pesticides blamed for killing nativefrogs.
• 26 May — Environment Court rules in favour of Solid Energy for theCypress mine.^[49][50][51]
• 1 July —Molesworth Station transferred from LINZ toDoC.^[52]
• 28 July — First criminal conviction for killing afur seal is handed down.
• September —Rock snot found in theBuller River.^[53]
• 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 linkQueenstown and theMilford Sound road.^[54]

2006

• 26 January — New Zealand is rated top in thePilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index.^[55]
• February — The fishing industry proposes limits on bottom trawling.
• 17 March — Proposal to build a gondola betweenQueenstown and theMilford Sound road is postponed.
• 8 April — A pipe bomb is used to blow up aconservationists letterbox.^[56]
• 9 - 12 April —Geckos are stolen from aChristchurch zoo but later recovered.
• 12 May - An application for proposed aerial walkway in theHokitika Scenic Reserve is rejected byDepartment of Conservation.
• 24 October — TheWWFLiving Planet report ranks New Zealand with the ninth largest per capitaecological footprint.[9][10]
• 30 November —Great white sharks will be protected within New Zealand'sEEZ from April 2007.[11]

2007

• January —DoC considers that almost half of the native plants and animals are threatened.^[57]
• 20 February —Wa$ted!, a programme investigating household sustainability, begins a two-season run on New Zealand television.
• 23 March — Prime MinisterHelen Clark puts forward aspirations for New Zealand to be the first sustainable country.
• 4 April — TheOECD releases a report on the performance of theNew Zealand Government.^[58]
• 4 April —Bottom trawling is prohibited in selected areas.^[59]
• 30 May — Government gives $9.88 million to clean up theTui mine tailings site.^[60]
• 30 November — Theorange roughy fishery is closed to allow stocks of the fish to recover.^[61]
• 13 December — The proposed tunnel linking Queenstown and Milford Sound is blocked by theNew Zealand Conservation Authority.

2008

• TheWaste Minimisation Act 2008 is passed.
• 31 January —Environment New Zealand 2007, aState of the Environment report, is released.
• 10 February — TheGreen Party leak Chapter 13 ofEnvironment 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.^[62]
• 4 March — TheWorld Economic ForumTravel and Tourism Competitiveness Report rates New Zealand at 24 out of 130 countries for environmentalsustainability.^[63]
• April — Greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand are 26% higher than 1990 levels, the required level for the Kyoto Protocol.^[64]
• 10 September — TheClimate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment Act 2008 is passed, establishing theNew Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

2009

• Govt³ is discontinued.
• 3 February — The National-led Government announces reforms to theResource Management Act

2010

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 — theEnvironmental Protection Authority begins operation.
• 5 October — the container shipRena runs aground on Astrolabe Reef, 12 nautical miles off Tauranga, resulting inNew Zealand's worst oil spill.^[65]

2012

• Concerns abouthydraulic 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.^[66]

2014

• West Coast Wind-blown Timber (Conservation Lands) Act 2014 passed

• Environment of New Zealand
• Timeline of environmental events
• Timeline of New Zealand history

• 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
• King, Carolyn; (1984)Immigrant Killers. Auckland: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-558121-0
• Knight, Catherine (2014)Ravaged Beauty: An Environmental History of the Manawatu. Auckland: Dunmore Press.ISBN 978-1-927212-13-4
• Knight, Catherine (2016)New Zealand's Rivers: An Environmental History. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.ISBN 978-1-927145-76-0
• Pawson, Eric and Booking, Tom (eds.); (2002)Environmental Histories of New Zealand. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-558421-X
• Young, David; (2004)Our Islands, Our Selves. Dunedin: University of Otago Press.ISBN 1-877276-94-4

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