Environment of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
of New Zealand is characterised by unique flora and fauna and a variety of landforms contained within a small island nation. Historically having a very isolated and endemic ecosystem far into modernity, the arrival of first the Maori and then later European settlers began to have significant impacts on this system, with the intentional and unintentional introduction of new species and plants which often overwhelmed their natural competitors, losing to a significant loss of native ecology and biodiversity, especially in areas like birdlife. Today, most parts of New Zealand are heavily modified by the effects of logging, agriculture and general human settlement, though large areas have also been placed under protection, combined in many cases with efforts to protect or regenerate native ecosystems (aided by the fact that especially the South Island of New Zealand has only a very low population density).
Biota
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
al landmasses. Its affinities are derived in part from Gondwana
Gondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
, from which it separated
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
82 million years ago, some modest affinities with New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island, both of which are part of the same continental plate as New Zealand and in part from Australia.
More recently a component has been introduced by humans. New Zealand's biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
exhibits high levels of endemism
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
, both in its flora and fauna. Until recently the islands had no native terrestrial mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s except for bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s (although mammals did exist in New Zealand until 19 million years ago), the main component of the fauna being insects and birds. Its flora is dominated by Gondwanan plants, comprising historically of forests, most famously the giant kauri. New Zealand has developed a national Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity Action Plan
A Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity...
to address conservation of considerable numbers of threatened flora and fauna within New Zealand.
Mammals
The only terrestrial mammals that were in New Zealand prior to human habitation were three species of bat. A number of marine mammals are found on the coast and waters of New Zealand. Maori and European settlers introduced a wide range of mammals some of which have become serious invasive speciesInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
.
Flora
New Zealand has a richly varied flora of imported and native species, the indigenous varieties having developed quite significantly due to the geographic isolation of the country before human migration and plat imports became common. However, the combination of external factors such as climate change and invasive species, as well as increasing agricultural and other human land uses have led to widespread damage. New Zealand's forest ecosystems for example are being considered as the second most endangered of the world, with only 7% of the natural habitat remaining.Climate
The climate of New Zealand is mostly cool temperate to warm temperate.State of the Environment reporting
The Ministry for the Environment has produced two State of the EnvironmentState of the Environment
The term State of the Environment normally relates to an analysis of trends in the environment of a particular place. This analysis can encompass aspects such as water quality, air quality, land use, ecosystem health and function, along with social and cultural matters.- The Pressure-State-Response...
reports to date, one in 1997 and the other in 2007.
OECD environmental performance review
In 2007, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
(OECD) conducted an environmental performance review of New Zealand. Some of the main conclusions and recommendations were that:
- energy intensity is about equal to the OECD average
- intensity of water, fertiliser, and pesticide use is low for OECD countries. However, the review period saw 'significant increases, with consequent growth in pressures on the environment'
- New Zealand should strengthen national policy guidance (policy statements, national environmental standards)
- New Zealand should further integrate environmental concerns into economic and sectoral decisions, particularly by using economic instruments to internalise environmental costs of economic activities
- New Zealand should further develop international environmental cooperation.
Environmental Performance Index
The Environmental Performance IndexEnvironmental Performance Index
The Environmental Performance Index is a method of quantifying and numerically benchmarking the environmental performance of a country's policies. This index was developed from the Pilot Environmental Performance Index, first published in 2002, and designed to supplement the environmental targets...
(EPI) is a method of quantifying and numerically benchmarking the environmental performance of a country's policies.
| Year | Ranking/Total | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1/133 | 88 |
| 2008 | 7/149 | 88.9 |
| 2010 | 15/163 | 73.4 |
- 2010 data is provisional
Environment and politics
| Party | 2002 | 2005 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | 56% | ||
| ACT Party | 10% | 10% | |
| Green Party Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it... |
97% | 97% | 97% |
| Labour Party New Zealand Labour Party The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935.... |
57% | 61% | 44% |
| Maori Party Maori Party The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led... |
83% | 87% | |
| National Party New Zealand National Party The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:... |
27% | 43% | 27% |
| NZ First New Zealand First New Zealand First is a political party in New Zealand that was founded in 1993, following party founder Winston Peters' resignation from the National Party in 1992... |
59% | 50% | 78% |
| Progressive Party New Zealand Progressive Party Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party.... |
76% | 81% | 60% |
| United Future | 28% | 48% | 53% |
The Values Party
Values Party
The Values Party, considered the world's first national-level environmentalist party that pre-dated any fashionable Green terminology, was established in 1972 at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, one of its initial leaders being Tony Brunt...
formed in 1973, the first ever national level environmental party. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
formed in 1991 which included some members from the defunct Values Party, and was initially in Parliament as part of the Alliance Party
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
. They currently have nine MPs that put forward green political ideology
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
.
The level of protection of the environment from the different political parties varies according to their position on the left-right political spectrum
Left-Right politics
The left–right political spectrum is a common way of classifying political positions, political ideologies, or political parties along a one-dimensional political spectrum. The perspective of Left vs. Right is a binary interpretation of complex questions...
. The right wing ACT Party scores the lowest and the left wing Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
scores the highest.
Environmental law
The roots of New Zealand environmental law can be traced to the common lawCommon law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
of Britain. The increasing environmental awareness of the 1960s led to a specific body of environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
that developed in many Western countries including New Zealand. Environmental law became more integrated in the 1980s with the passing of the Environment Act 1986
Environment Act 1986
The Environment Act 1986 established the Ministry for the Environment and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.-References:* .*...
and the Conservation Act 1987
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 and Fish and Game, and complements the National Parks Act 1980 and the Reserves Act 1997....
. These Acts set up the Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment may refer to:* Ministry for the Environment * Ministry for the Environment * Ministry for the Environment...
, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is an independent Officer of the New Zealand Parliament appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives for a five-year term under the Environment Act 1986...
and the New Zealand Department of Conservation
New Zealand Department of Conservation
The Department of Conservation , commonly known by its acronym, "DOC", is the state sector organisation which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage...
.
The most significant Act of Parliament concerning environmental law was the passing of Resource Management Act
Resource Management Act
The Resource Management Act 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...
in 1991. Issues under the Act are adjudicated by the Environment Court of New Zealand
Environment Court of New Zealand
The Environment Court of New Zealand is a specialist court for planning permits and environmental issues...
.
Treaties and international agreements
New Zealand is a signatory to a number of treaties and international agreements:- The Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992 – ratified on 8 September 1993
- The Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological DiversityThe Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
, 1992 – ratified on 16 September 1993 - The Montreal ProtocolMontreal ProtocolThe Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion...
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1989 – ratified on 21 July 1988 - The Antarctic Treaty, 1959 – ratified on 1 November 1960 – Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, 1980 – ratified on 8 March 1982 – and others
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaThe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
, 1982 – ratified on 19 July 1996 - The Basel ConventionBasel ConventionThe Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, usually known simply as the Basel Convention, is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of...
on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, 1989 – ratified on 20 December 1994 - The Stockholm ConventionStockholm ConventionStockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants .- History :...
on Persistent Organic Pollutants 2001 – ratified on 24 September 2004. - Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1971 (London [Dumping] Convention) – ratified on 30 April 1975 – and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ShipsMARPOL 73/78Marpol 73/78 is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978....
, 1973 – not yet ratified - The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, 1973 – acceded to on 10 May 1989
- The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 1971 (RamsarRamsarRamsar is a city in and the capital of Ramsar County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 31,659, in 9,421 families....
Convention) – signed on 13 August 1976 with effect from 13 December 1976 - Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific, 1989 (Wellington Convention) – ratified on 17 May 1991
- South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, 1985 – ratified on 13 November 1986
- Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region, 1986 [SPREP] – ratified on 3 May 1990
- The Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetyCartagena Protocol on BiosafetyThe Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement on biosafety, as a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.The...
to the Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological DiversityThe Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
– ratified on 24 February 2005
New Zealand is a depositary to the following environmental treaties:
- Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities
- Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC)
- Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific
- Protocol 1 to the Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific
- Protocol II to the Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific
Environmental issues
As with many other countries there are a number of environmental organisations that are working towards addressing various environmental issues in New Zealand.The move to carry out genetic engineering in New Zealand
Genetic engineering in New Zealand
Genetic engineering is a contentious issue in New Zealand. The possibility that GE crops may be grown in New Zealand led to a nationwide protest movement including marches in the main centres....
are opposed by environmentalists on economic and environmental grounds.
Deforestation
New Zealand's patterns of greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions are similar to Scandinavian countries, in that land use and land use change and forestry are amongst the most significant contributors. Most of the current 11.9 million hectares of agricultural land had been cleared, representing around 44% of the total land area of New Zealand. Initial attempts to decrease the scale of further deforestation, such as Forestry Rights Registration Act 1983 that created 'forestry rights' have been argued to only be moderately successful. However, they created world class structures of data collection and property rights that made way first for an amendment to the 1949 Forests Act in 1993 and later to the Climate Change Response Act 2002. Forestry came to be seen as main tool in meeting New Zealand's Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
targets. Accordingly, REDD
Redd
Redd is a Turkish rock band established in 1996 by tenor opera singer Doğan Duru and guitarist Berke Hatipoğlu under the name Ten. They used to play at bars until they set up their own studio in 2004. Their first album, entitled "50/50", produced by Levent Büyük was published a year later by...
programmes (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) were implemented, whereby reforestation and deforestation was tied carbon emissions credits and traded (ETS
ETS
ETS is an abbreviation of:* Expiration, term of service, US Army* Euro Truck Simulator video game* The Elements of Typographic Style, a book on typography* Enterprise test software, software used by electronics manufacturers for product testing...
) and commercial carbon-sink forests were planted. Perhaps due to the government's initial control over REDD and the trade in carbon credits there was initially an increase in deforestation and it was not until private forestry owners gained access to the trading scheme and to carbon credits that the scheme started to produce reductions in deforestation.
See also
- Sustainability in New ZealandSustainability in New ZealandSustainability in New Zealand is being increasingly recognised as being good practice and the government has made some moves toward this goal.-History:...
- Conservation Volunteers New ZealandConservation Volunteers New ZealandConservation Volunteers New Zealand was founded in 2006 by Conservation Volunteers Australia. CVNZ's first office opened in Auckland.Conservation Volunteers New Zealand is a New Zealand not-for-profit conservation organisation that attracts and coordinates volunteers for environmental restoration...
- Timeline of environmental history of New ZealandTimeline of environmental history of New ZealandThis is a timeline of environmental history of New Zealand. These events relate to the more notable events affecting the natural environment of New Zealand as a result of human activity.-Pre 1800s:...
- Climate change in New ZealandClimate change in New ZealandClimate change in New Zealand, in the sense of anthropogenic global warming during the 20th century, is apparent in the instrumental record, in New Zealand's participation in international treaties and in social and political debates. Climate change is being responded to in a variety of ways by...
- Waste in New ZealandWaste in New ZealandThe management of waste in New Zealand is becoming increasingly regulated to avoid any associated environmental issues.-History:Until recently waste was taken to local rubbish dumps with little or no control as to where they were sited. Often the dumps were close to water ways...
- Water in New ZealandWater in New ZealandWater is relatively abundant in New Zealand due to the temperate climate and maritime weather patterns. In recent years water pollution and draw-down of aquifers have become important environmental issues.-Lakes:...
External links
- Ministry for the Environment
- Department of Conservation
- Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
- Ecological Economics Research centre New Zealand (formerly known as the New Zealand Centre for Ecological Economics)
- ourfuture.net.nz – a project for mapping environmental initiatives in New Zealand