Protected areas of New Zealand are areas that are in some way protected to preserve their

environmental Environment most often refers to: __NOTOC__ * Natural environment, referring respectively to all living and non-living things occurring naturally and the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism ...

, scientific, scenic, historical, cultural or recreational value. There are about 10,000

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

s, covering about a third of the country. The method and aims of protection vary according to the importance of the resource and whether it is publicly or privately owned. Nearly 30 percent of New Zealand's land mass is publicly owned with some degree of protection. Most of this land – about – is administered by the Department of Conservation. There are 13

national parks A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...

, thousands of reserves, 54 conservation parks, and a range of other conservation areas. The department also manages 44 offshore and coastal

marine reserves A marine reserve is a type of marine protected area (MPA). An MPA is a section of the ocean where a government has placed limits on human activity. A marine reserve is a marine protected area in which removing or destroying natural or cultural ...

. Any development in Coastal Marine Areas, which extend up to the

mean high water spring A chart datum is the water surface serving as origin (or coordinate surface) of depths displayed on a nautical chart and for reporting and predicting tide heights. A chart datum is generally derived from some tidal phase, in which case it is ...

mark and up to a kilometre up rivers, require a

resource consent A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act (the "RMA"). Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or ...

under the

Resource Management Act The Resource Management Act (RMA) passed in 1991 in New Zealand is a significant, and at times, controversial Act of Parliament. The RMA promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources such as land, air and water. New Zea ...

History

The

Māori people Māori () are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand. Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of Māori migration canoes, c ...

of New Zealand have a tradition of declaring a ''

rāhui In Māori culture, a rāhui is a form of tapu restricting access to, or use of, an area or resource by the kaitiaki (guardian/s) of the area in the spirit of '' kaitiakitanga''. With the passing of the 1996 Fisheries Act, a rāhui was able to ...

'' to restrict access to or exploitation of resources. Governor Hobson (in office 1840–1842) had instructions from the United Kingdom

Home Secretary The secretary of state for the Home Department, more commonly known as the home secretary, is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom and the head of the Home Office. The position is a Great Office of State, maki ...

John Russell for the setting aside of some

Crown land Crown land, also known as royal domain, is a territorial area belonging to the monarch, who personifies the Crown. It is the equivalent of an entailed estate and passes with the monarchy, being inseparable from it. Today, in Commonwealth realm ...

in New Zealand: "reserved, for the use of the public at large, all tracts which are likely to be required for purposes of public health, utility, convenience, or enjoyment." The Public Reserves Act 1854 allowed

the Crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

to grant public-utility reserves to

provinces A province is an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outside Italy. The term ''provi ...

. The Public Domains Act 1860 covered domains in Auckland and Wellington and allowed the

Governor of New Zealand A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...

to buy other land. These powers were further extended by the Public Reserves Act 1877, the Public Reserves Act 1881, the Public Reserves and Domains Act 1908, the Public Reserves, Domains and National Parks Act 1928, and the Reserves and Domains Act 1953. The

Reserves Act 1977 The Reserves Act 1977 is an Act of Parliament passed in New Zealand. It is administered by the Department of Conservation It contains provisions for the acquisition, control, management, maintenance, development and use of public reserves. T ...

superseded previous acts. The 1977 Act, together with the

Marine Reserves Act 1971 The Marine Reserves Act is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of isla ...

, National Parks Act 1980 and

Conservation Act 1987 The Conservation Act 1987 is New Zealand's principal act concerning the conservation of indigenous biodiversity. The Act established the Department of Conservation (who administer the Act) and Fish and Game, and complements the National Pa ...

, established New Zealand's modern conservation system.

National parks

The National Parks Act 1980 provides high protection significant areas known as

. These areas provide a habitat for many rare plants and animals, and a place for walking, mountain climbing, boating, snow sports and other forms of recreation. The first national park,

Tongariro National Park Tongariro National Park (; ), located in the central North Island, is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world.Department of Conservation"Tongariro National Park: Features", retrieved 21 April ...

, is one of the ten oldest national parks in the world, and has its origins in the gifting of land for a protected area in 1887. It was formally established as a national park in 1894 and is now a

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

Te Urewera National Park Te Urewera National Park was a national park near the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, established as such in 1954 and disestablished in 2014, when it was replaced by a new legal entity and protected area named ''Te Urewera''. The pa ...

, established in 1954, was disestablished in 2014 when

Te Urewera Te Urewera is an area of mostly forested, sparsely populated rugged hill country in the North Island of New Zealand, located inland between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke Bay. Te Urewera is the ''rohe'' (historical home) of Tūhoe, a Māori i ...

was returned to the Tuhoe people. As of 2015, there are 13 national parks covering a combined .

Marine reserves

The

protects several marine areas around New Zealand known as

. In these areas there is a complete ban on fishing, and on removing or disturbing marine life. The first marine reserve, Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve, was established in 1975. As of 2015, there are 44 marine reserves covering 9.5 percent of its coastal waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast.

Reserves

The Department of Conservation administers several types of reserve under the

: * National reserves are areas that have been designated as having national importance due to their historical or ecological value. * Recreation reserves have been established for recreation and sporting activities, to promote physical welfare and enjoyment and protect the natural environment and beauty. * Historic reserves have been established to protect and preserve places, objects and natural features that are of historic, archaeological, cultural, educational and other special interest. * Scenic reserves are reserves protected because of their scenic interest, beauty or natural features. These are the most common type of protected area in New Zealand. Most are small areas of remnant native forest close to roads. Scenic reserves were previously established under the

Scenery Preservation Act 1903 The Scenery Preservation Act was an Act of Parliament passed in 1903 in New Zealand. The Act provided up to £25,000 a year for compulsory purchase of land of scenic or historic interest, under the Public Works Act 1894. It was introduced by Jo ...

before the Reserves Act was passed. *

Nature reserves A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geolog ...

are reserves established to protect indigenous flora or fauna, or rare or scientifically important natural features. Entry to these reserves is limited to those with specific permits. * Scientific reserves are reserves established to protect areas for scientific research and education. Entry to part of all of these reserves is limited to those with specific permits. * Government purpose reserves are reserves held for a particular government purposes, like wildlife management areas. * Local purpose reserves are local reserves held for particular purposes. Local reserves can be created for, "utility, road, street, access way, esplanade, service lane, playcentre, kindergarten, plunket room, or other like purpose", including to protect reservoir catchments. Specific rules apply to esplanade reserves. *

Wilderness areas Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural) are Earth's natural environments that have not been significantly modified by human activity, or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally ...

are reserves or parts of reserves maintained in a natural state, with a ban on buildings, roads, human infrastructure or introduced animals. * Other areas of private, Crown or Māori land may be leased back by the Crown under conservation covenants to preserve the natural environment.

Conservation areas

The Department of Conservation administers several types of conservation areas under the

: * Conservation parks are a group of 54 areas protected for their natural and historic resources, and for public use, covering an area of .Section 18
an

Conservation Act 1987, New Zealand Parliament. They include 36 forest parks that predate the 1987 legislation. *

are areas of land managed for preservation of indigenous natural resources. Buildings, machinery, livestock, vehicles, aircraft, roads and tracks are banned in these areas unless it is for a specific management, scientific or safety purpose. * Ecological areas are areas managed for the protection of the particular values of that area. There are currently 112 areas such areas, most being wetlands around

Ōkārito Lagoon Ōkārito Lagoon is a coastal lagoon on the west Coast, New Zealand, West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is located south of Hokitika, and covers an area of about , making it the largest unmodified coastal wetland in New Zealand. It p ...

on West Coast. * Sanctuary areas are areas managed to preserve indigenous plants and animals in their natural state and for scientific and other similar purposes. * Watercourse areas are areas of land protected under the

Conservation Act The Conservation Act 1987 is New Zealand's principal act concerning the conservation of indigenous biodiversity. The Act established the Department of Conservation (who administer the Act) and Fish and Game, and complements the National Pa ...

, Reserves Act or QEII National Trust Act, which are next to inland waters also under some form of protection. In each area, both the land and waters have outstanding natural or recreational characteristics. * Amenity areas are areas managed for protection of indigenous natural and historic resources, and for public recreation. * Wildlife management areas are areas managed for the protection of wildlife and other indigenous natural and historic resources. Examples include Matatā Lagoon, Kārewa / Gannet Island, and Moutohorā Island. * Marginal strips are barriers of land adjoining the sea, lakes or rivers. They are protected for conservation, the maintenance of waters, water quality, aquatic life, protecting natural values, and ensuring ongoing public access. *Stewardship areas are areas managed to protect the natural and historic values, which can be disposed of through a public process if retaining the land wouldn't "materially enhance the conservation or recreational values of adjacent land". * Other conservation and administrative land, including certain types of state forest land, private or Māori land protected by the Minister of Conservation, and land held by the Department of Conservation for offices or visitor centres.

Ecological islands

The Department of Conservation and private trusts operate ecological islands as protected habitats for endemic and native New Zealand species. * Island reserves include 50 offshore islands that are nature reserves and hundreds of other islands that the Department of Conservation manage. * Mainland islands are areas of the mainland

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

and

South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...

that are isolated by

pest-exclusion fence 280px, Xcluder pest-exclusion fence around the perimeter of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in New Zealand A pest-exclusion fence is a barrier that is built to exclude certain types of animal pests from an enclosure. This may be to protect p ...

s, geographical features or intensive pest control.

Locally protected areas

Many areas are protected and administered by

local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

: * Regional parks are protected areas administered by regional councils and

unitary authorities A unitary authority is a type of local government, local authority in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Unitary authorities are responsible for all local government functions within its area or performing additional functions that elsewhere are ...

. * Local parks are protected areas administered by

territorial authorities Territorial authorities ( Māori: ''mana ā-rohe'') are a tier of local government in New Zealand, alongside regional councils. There are 67 territorial authorities: 13 city councils, 53 district councils and the Chatham Islands Council. Dist ...

and

Internationally protected areas

There are ten areas in New Zealand protected by

international law International law, also known as public international law and the law of nations, is the set of Rule of law, rules, norms, Customary law, legal customs and standards that State (polity), states and other actors feel an obligation to, and generall ...

: * There are seven

wetlands A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...

protected as

Ramsar sites A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O) *** Permanent 8 ha (P) *** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts) **

Ramsar Convention The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar site, Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on We ...

and administered by the Department of Conservation, covering an area of about . Most other wetlands are not formally protected, but projects have been established to restore those that remain. * There are three

World Heritage Sites World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...

legally protected by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) due to their cultural, historical, scientific or other significance to humanity. There are Te Wahipounamu,

and the

New Zealand Subantarctic Islands The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands comprise the five southernmost groups of the New Zealand outlying islands. They are collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the islands lie near the southeast edge of the large ...

Other protected areas

Other protected areas include many public and privately-owned

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Protected Areas Of New Zealand Lists of tourist attractions in New Zealand Protected

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...