Time+Line

Timeline About 1887 The chief of the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe gave the mountains Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu to the Crown. The area was made into Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's first National Park. Since then, 13 more have been created. In 1850 forests were cut down to make more land for farms, but by 1950 it was clear that there weren't many native forests left. For the next 30 years there were arguments about whether to keep the native forest for future generations or use the trees for timber. **Soil** Cutting down trees meant that soil could be washed away in heavy rain, causing slips and floods that put lives and property at risk. Some areas likely to wear away such as hillsides, were replanted in trees.

Native birds
In 1948 when takahe, thought to be extinct, was found in Fiordland there was awareness to save other animals vulnerable to extinction. Takahē and other rare birds have been bred in captivity to lessen the danger of extinction.

Activism
In the mid 1960s people started to protest against ruining the environment. Major campaigns tried to stop the building of a high dam which would have raised the level of Lake Manapōuri. The Maruia Declaration, signed in 1975, called for an end to cutting down native forest.

Government Organisation
In 1986 the Ministry for the Environment was set up to look after environmental issues and planning. Parks, reserves, rivers, lakes and native wildlife are cared for by the Department of Conservation, which started in 1987.

Conservation today
Important issues for New Zealand in the 21st century are:
 * biodiversity – caring for the whole range of native plants and animals
 * biosecurity – making sure that plants, animals or other organisms which could harm the environment are not brought into the country.