Events In History
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18 March 1983Waitangi Tribunal rules on Motunui claim
In a landmark ruling, the Waitangi Tribunal found that the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi included a duty to protect Māori fishing grounds. Read more...
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28 March 1923Forest and Bird founded
The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society was formed at a meeting in Wellington called by a local conservation advocate, Captain Ernest ‘Val’ Sanderson. Read more...
Articles
Scenery preservation 1903-1953
Premier Richard Seddon outlined his vision for 'God's own country' in 1903 as he steered the Scenery Preservation Act through Parliament. This act was an important landmark in preserving New Zealand's natural and historic heritage.
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Page 2 – Scientific origins
European settlers in New Zealand struggled to rework the indigenous landscape.
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Page 3 – Beautiful New Zealand
Even before systematic colonisation began in 1840, New Zealand had been promoted in British publications as a wild, scenic, romantic wonderland – and a place of extremes
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Page 4 – Pressure groups
Between the 1880s and the 1920s local scenery preservation societies and other pressure and interest groups became active.
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Page 5 – The Scenery Preservation Act
Politician Harry Ell was the strongest advocate of scenery preservation in the early 20th century. He raised the issue of legislative protection for the environment in
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Page 7 – Maori and scenic reserves
Initially Māori had mixed feelings about the Scenery Preservation Act. The Member of Parliament for Northern Maori, Hōne Heke Ngāpua, welcomed it as a way to protect tōtara and
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Page 8 – New administration
Officially, the Scenery Preservation Commission was disbanded because the government had found that some 'simpler machinery was necessary to more effectively carry out the
Treaty signatories and signing locations
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on nine separate sheets by more than 500 Māori. Find out more about the sheets, the signatories and the signing locations
- Page 6 - Preserving the documentsThe Treaty of Waitangi is currently on display in the He Tohu exhibition at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington. It has not always been so secure. Water, time and
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Main image: Pigeon Island Bird Pen
New Zealand's first sanctuary for flightless birds was set up in Fiordland.