Wild New Zealand – our relationship with our environment
New Zealand’s geology, climate and isolation from the other land masses of the world created islands with a huge range of diverse landscapes and a unique range of flora and fauna. No matter which way we look, our natural environment has played a key role in shaping us as New Zealanders, and in turn, New Zealanders themselves have had a significant impact on the landscape of our islands.
Restless land – volcanoes, earthquakes, landslips
New Zealand has a complex geology and an ongoing active history of earthquakes, landslips and volcanic activity. New Zealanders live with the constant threat of a geological event on our doorstep. Te Ara (the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand) gives an excellent overview of New Zealand’s geology.
Mount Ruapehu and White Island are the two New Zealand volcanoes which have often featured in the news with volcanic activity over recent years. GNS Science (a Government research institute) has an informative web site about New Zealand volcanoes. The most famous eruption in recent history was that of Mount Tarawera in 1886 which caused significant loss of life in villages nearby and destroyed the famous Pink and White Terraces. Further back in time the Taupo Volcano produced massive eruptions which led to the creation of Lake Taupo. For current volcanic activity Geonet maintains a Volcano Watch.
Earthquakes are a regular feature of life in New Zealand. Geonet maintains a regular Earthquake Report. Christchurch City Libraries have information about New Zealand earthquakes including some in recent history – Napier, Murchison, Edgecumbe, Inangahua. In the Canterbury region, the Alpine Fault has an impact on earthquake activity.
Landslides have happened regularly throughout New Zealand’s geological history. Perhaps the most dramatic slip was the collapse of part of the east face of our highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, on December 14, 1991. The peak was shortened by 10 metres. In 1979, a massive slip in the Dunedin suburb of Abbotsford caused 70 houses to be destroyed or relocated.
Extinction and conservation
Our environment may have a significant impact on our lives as New Zealanders, but in just a few hundred years, we’ve also had a huge impact on our natural world. Before human habitation, New Zealand was notable for its absence of mammals and its unique position as a land of birds. The arrival of Māori with dogs and rats, and later Europeans with a large range of domestic and game animals, not to mention pests made a profound impact on the land. Many species became extinct and more are still at risk today. Today, New Zealand has a major focus on conservation, and native birds and marine mammals that were once hunted are now protected and have become the basis of a thriving tourist industry.
Exploiting the land
When humans began to settle New Zealand they exploited natural resources with varying degrees of care. Moa were hunted to extinction and the impact of fire on the landscape increased but the natural world was still rich and diverse until arrival of European whalers and sealers, followed by settlers, led to the systematic exploitation and destruction of flora and fauna. Now the focus is on conserving remaining natural resources. Ironically the beauty and uniqueness of New Zealand’s natural resources, and the wildness of the landscape is now the basis for the major industry of tourism – think adventure tourism, whale watching and eco tourism. Our unique birdlife is celebrated – from our national emblem of the kiwi to that unique parrot the kakapo. The New Zealand Birds web site is a great introduction.
Natural disasters
The issue of climate change has focused us recently on extremes of weather and disasters springing from the weather but New Zealand has a long history of natural disasters – volcanic lahars, floods, extreme windstorms and of course, earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions. Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand has a good section on natural hazards and disasters in New Zealand.
Wild on our doorstep
At a local level, day-to-life for Cantabrians is heavily influenced by our proximity to the sea, hills, mountains and plains. Christchurch is blessed with some great natural features right on our doorstep – for example the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula’s Lyttelton and Akaroa harbours. Another significant natural feature is Lake Ellesmere Te Waihora – New Zealand’s fifth largest lake and an important resource for wildlife. This NASA photograph of Christchurch from space shows the significance of both natural features.
Always take the weather with you
Any mention of wild New Zealand wouldn’t be complete without referring to our wild weather. Our winds - the southerly and northerly gales and the hot norwester which dumps heavy rain on the West Coast and dries out the Canterbury Plains - are indicative of our location in the midst of two great oceans, the Pacific and the Tasman Sea. Our mountainous terrain also means we have many localised weather patterns and that Canterbury’s weather can change very quickly. “Four seasons in one day”
– the songwriters have it.
Wild New Zealand resources
Browse the resources in our libraries using our online catalogue.
On our web sites
- Earthquakes
- Tsunami
- Winter 2007 – what’s happening with the weather?: we talk to well-known weather personality and MetService Ambassador Bob McDavitt.
Fact files for kids
New Zealand Birds and Animals. Endangered and extinct New Zealand birds and animals, also predators and pest animals like ferrets, stoats and weasels, possums, rabbits and rats.
New Zealand Disasters. Information about some of New Zealand’s biggest disasters.
