Editing National parks of New Zealand

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{distinguish|text=[[National Park, New Zealand]], a village and railway station near Tongariro National Park}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
[[File:Map of New Zealand National Park.svg|thumb|right|Map of New Zealand with the national parks marked in green]]
[[File:Information board in Abel Tasman NP 04.jpg|thumb|DOC information board in [[Abel Tasman National Park]]]]
{{multiple image
|direction=vertical
|width=160
|image1=Tongariro from the air.jpg
|caption1=[[Mount Tongariro]] in winter, [[Tongariro National Park]]
|image2=NEO egmont big.jpg
|caption2=Satellite photo of [[Egmont National Park]] (the forested area)
|image3=Milford sound 2004.jpg
|caption3=[[Tourism in New Zealand|Tourist]] attraction [[Milford Sound]], the most famous of the [[List of fiords of New Zealand|fiords]] in [[Fiordland National Park]]
}}

The [[national park]]s of New Zealand are protected natural areas administered by the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] (DOC). The first national parks established in the country were all focused on mountain scenery. Since the 1980s the focus has been on developing a more diverse representation of New Zealand landscapes.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/role/legislation/national-parks-act/
 |title=National Parks Act 1980: DOC's role
 |work=doc.govt.nz
 |publisher=Department of Conservation
 |access-date=14 August 2010
}}</ref> The parks are all culturally significant and many also contain historic features.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/policies-and-plans/national-park-management/general-policy-for-national-parks/5-historical-and-cultural-heritage/|title=5. Historical and Cultural Heritage: General Policy for National Parks
 |work=doc.govt.nz
 |publisher=Department of Conservation
 |access-date=14 August 2010
}}</ref> [[Tongariro National Park]] is one of the [[World Heritage Sites]] that are of both cultural and natural significance, while four of the [[South Island]] national parks form [[Te Wahipounamu]], another World Heritage Site. There are currently 13 national parks; a 14th, [[Te Urewera National Park]], was disestablished in 2014.

The national parks are administered by the Department of Conservation "for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public".<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.doc.govt.nz/publications/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/general-policy-for-national-parks/8-benefit-use-and-enjoyment-of-the-public/
 |title       = 8. Benefit, Use and Enjoyment of the Public: General Policy for National Parks
 |work        = doc.govt.nz
 |publisher   = Department of Conservation
 |access-date  = 14 August 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100515232117/http://doc.govt.nz/publications/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/general-policy-for-national-parks/8-benefit-use-and-enjoyment-of-the-public/
 |archive-date = 15 May 2010}}</ref> They are popular tourist destinations, with three-tenths of overseas tourists visiting at least one national park during their stay in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/role/visitor-statistics-and-research/national-parks-visitor-statistics/ |title=International visitor numbers to larger national parks: Visitor statistics and research
 |work=doc.govt.nz
 |publisher=Department of Conservation
 |access-date=14 August 2010
}}</ref>

== Legislation ==
The [[National Parks Act 1980 (New Zealand)|National Parks Act of 1980]] was established in order to codify the purpose, governance and selection of national parks. It begins by establishing the definition of a national park:
{{quotation|It is hereby declared that the provisions of this Act shall have effect for the purpose of preserving in perpetuity as national parks, for their intrinsic worth and for the benefit, use, and
enjoyment of the public, areas of New Zealand that contain scenery of such distinctive quality, ecological systems, or natural features so beautiful, unique, or scientifically important that their preservation is in the national interest.|[[National Parks Act 1980 (New Zealand)|National Parks Act 1980]], Part 1, section 4, subsection 1<ref>Retrieved from http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1980/0066/10.0/096be8ed802f3e20.pdf on 21 August 2010</ref>}}

The National Parks Act goes on to state that the public will have freedom of entry and access to the parks, though this is subject to restrictions to ensure the preservation of native plants and animals and the welfare of the parks in general. Access to specially protected areas (550&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) constituted under the act is by permit only.
Under the Act, national parks are to be maintained in their natural state as far as possible to retain their value as soil, water and forest conservation areas. Native plants and animals are to be preserved and introduced plants and animals removed if their presence interferes with the natural wildlife. Development in wilderness areas established under the act is restricted to foot tracks and huts used for wild animal control or scientific research.

===Services available for public use===
The National Parks Act allows the Department of Conservation to provide hostels, huts, camping grounds, ski tows and similar facilities, parking areas, roading and tracks within the parks. In addition to these, the department also provides some accommodation, transport and other services at entry points to the parks, but these are also offered by other government agencies, voluntary organisations and private firms. More comprehensive services within the parks, such as guided walks and skiing tutorials, are privately provided with concessions from the department.

=== 2018 Supreme Court decision ===
In 2018, the Auckland iwi [[Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki]] won a case in the [[Supreme Court of New Zealand|Supreme Court]], allowing them to apply to the Department of Conservation for exclusive rights for concessions to run commercial operations on [[Motutapu Island|Motutapu]] and [[Rangitoto Island|Rangitoto]] islands.  The court decision was based on giving effect to principles within the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] and recognition that although the islands are administered by the Department of Conservation, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki has traditional ownership (''mana whenua'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neilson |first=Michael |date=14 December 2018 |title=Auckland iwi wins court case over Rangitoto rights stoush |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-iwi-ngai-tai-wins-supreme-court-case-in-stoush-over-rangitoto-motutapu-commercial-rights/RUGF5MFNNOCIDUSETWN656FDM4/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |date=17 December 2018 |title=Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Supreme Court Decision |url=https://waateanews.com/2018/12/17/ngi-tai-ki-tmaki-supreme-court-decision/ |access-date=24 March 2024 |website=Waatea News |language=en-NZ}}</ref> This decision had implications for the Department of Conservation management plans for the conservation estate, including the National Parks, and led to a pause in the review of the management plans for [[Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park]] and [[Westland Tai Poutini National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2019 |title=DOC delays review of national parks after talks with iwi |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/381726/doc-delays-review-of-national-parks-after-talks-with-iwi |access-date=24 March 2024 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Littlewood |first=Matthew |date=5 February 2019 |title=Supreme Court ruling pauses Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park management plan |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/110375758/supreme-court-ruling-pauses-aorakimt-cook-national-park-plan |access-date=24 March 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>

==List of national parks==
This table lists the current and former national parks in alphabetical order.
{{legend|#cfecd2|Green shading and asterisk{{snd}}Parks which form part of a UNESCO designated [[World Heritage Site]]|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA|text={{asterisk}}}}
{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"
|-
!rowspan=2| National Park 
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"| Image
!colspan=2| Area<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/53564-protected-areas/data/|title=Data Table – Protected Areas – LINZ Data Service (from recorded area in hectares)|publisher=[[Land Information New Zealand]]|access-date=2017-10-18}}</ref>
!rowspan=2|Established
!rowspan=2|Location
!rowspan=2|Number of DOC huts
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |Description
|-
!km<sup>2</sup>
!sq mi
|-
|[[Abel Tasman National Park]] 
|[[File:Totaranui Beach 01.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|237|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1942
|{{Coord|40|50||S|172|54||E}}
|7
|The smallest national park, this tourist destination has numerous tidal inlets and beaches of golden sand along the shores of [[Tasman Bay]]. "Doing the Abel Tasman" as a [[Tramping in New Zealand|tramping]] or [[kayaking]] journey is a common activity.
|-style="background: #cfecd2;"
|[[Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park]]* 
|[[File:Hooker Valley in front of Mount Cook Range.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|722|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1953
|{{Coord|43|44||S|170|6||E}}
|16
|An [[Wiktionary:Alpine|alpine]] park containing New Zealand's highest mountain, [[Aoraki / Mount Cook]] (3,724&nbsp;m) and its longest glacier, [[Haupapa / Tasman Glacier]] (29&nbsp;km). A hotspot for [[mountaineering]], [[ski touring]] and scenic flights, the park is an area of outstanding natural beauty.
|-
|[[Arthur's Pass National Park]] 
|[[File:Edwards Valley, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand 09.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|1185|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1929
|{{Coord|42|57||S|171|34||E}}
|28
| A rugged and mountainous area straddling the main divide of the [[Southern Alps]].
|-
|[[Egmont National Park]] 
|[[File:Mount taranaki photographed from near the sea cliffs at Tapuae.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|342|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1900
|{{Coord|39|16||S|174|6||E}}
|8
|This park comprises the land about a nine-kilometre radius of [[Mount Taranaki]] and some outlying areas to the north. The symmetrical cone of the dormant volcano is a provincial landmark.
|-style="background: #cfecd2;"
|[[Fiordland National Park]]*
|[[File:00 1373 Milford Sound -New Zealand.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|12607|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1952
|{{Coord|45|25||S|167|43||E}}
|51
|The largest national park in New Zealand and one of the largest in the world, the park covers the southwest corner of the South Island. The park's scenery, with its deep [[fiord]]s, its glacial lakes, its mountains and [[waterfall]]s, make it a popular tourist destination.
|-
| [[Kahurangi National Park]] 
|[[File:View towards Lookout Range from John Reid Hut, Kahurangi, New Zealand.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|4529|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1996
|{{Coord|41|15||S|172|7||E}}
|51
|Situated in the north-west of the [[South Island]], Kahurangi contains spectacular and remote country, including the well-used [[Heaphy Track]]. Ancient landforms and unique flora and fauna add to the value of New Zealand's second largest national park.
|-style="background: #cfecd2;"
|[[Mount Aspiring National Park]]* 
|[[File:View towards Gillespie Valley from Gillespie Pass, New Zealand 13.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|3562|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1964
|{{Coord|44|23||S|168|44||E}}
|19
|A complex of glaciated mountain scenery centred on [[Mount Aspiring / Tititea]] ({{convert|3033|m}}), New Zealand's highest peak outside of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.
|-
|[[Nelson Lakes National Park]] 
|[[File:Lake Angelus approach.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|1019|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1956
|{{Coord|41|49|9|S|172|50|15|E}}
|20
|A rugged, mountainous area in the Tasman District, south of [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]]. It extends southwards from the forested shores of [[Lake Rotoiti, Nelson|Lakes Rotoiti]] and [[Lake Rotoroa, Nelson|Rotoroa]] to the [[Lewis Pass National Reserve]].
|-
|[[Paparoa National Park]] 
|[[File:00 1273 Pancake Rocks - Paparoa-Nationalpark (New Zealand).jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|430|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1987
|{{Coord|42|5||S|171|30||E}}
|2
|On the West Coast of the South Island between [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]] and [[Greymouth]]. It includes the Pancake Rocks at [[Punakaiki]].
|-
|[[Rakiura National Park]] 
|[[File:Stewart Island Fern Gully.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|1400|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|2002
|{{Coord|46|54||S|168|7||E}}
|24
|Covering about 85% of [[Stewart Island / Rakiura]], this is the newest of the national parks.
|-
| [[Te Urewera National Park]] (disestablished 2014) 
|[[File:Towards East Cape.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|2127|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1954
|{{Coord|38|45||S|177|9||E}}
|29
|Together with neighbouring [[Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park]], Te Urewera is the largest remaining stand of native forest in the North Island. [[Lake Waikaremoana]], is noted for its scenic shoreline. Since 2014 it has been a [[protected area]] meeting the [[IUCN protected area categories#Category II – National Park|International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria for Category II – National Park]], but it is no longer a national park, instead being run under a special agreement between the Crown and the [[Tūhoe]] [[iwi]].
|-style="background: #cfecd2;"
|[[Tongariro National Park]]* 
|[[File:Le Ngauruhoe et le Ruapehu vus du sommet du Tongariro.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|786|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1887
|{{Coord|39|12||S|175|35||E}}
|10
|New Zealand's first national park, recognised as one of the 27 [[World Heritage Sites]] that are of both outstanding natural and cultural value. Gifted to the Crown by [[Te Heuheu Tūkino IV]], the park includes several sacred [[Māori mythology|Māori]] sites and three active [[volcano]]es, [[Mount Ruapehu|Ruapehu]], [[Ngauruhoe]] and [[Tongariro]].
|-style="background: #cfecd2;"
|[[Westland Tai Poutini National Park]]*
|[[File:Fox Glacier NZ 2.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|1320|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1960
|{{Coord|43|23||S|170|11||E}}
|12
| Extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to a wild remote coastline. Included in the park are [[glacier]]s, scenic lakes and dense [[rainforest]], as well as remains of old [[gold mining]] towns along the coast.
|-
|[[Whanganui National Park]]  
|[[File:Whanganui River.jpg|200px]]
|{{convert|742|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|1986
|{{Coord|39|35||S|175|5||E}}
|5
|Bordering the [[Whanganui River]], it incorporates areas of Crown land, former state forest and a number of former reserves.
|}

== Timeline ==
<timeline>
Define $dx = 25 # shift text to right side of bar
Define $dy = -3 # shift text to right side of bar

ImageSize  = width:250 height:550
PlotArea   = width: 25 height:530 left:50 bottom:10

DateFormat = yyyy
Define $start = 1880
Define $now = 2024
Period     = from:1880 till:2024
TimeAxis   = orientation:vertical
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1880

PlotData=
  bar:Leaders color:green width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:S

  from:$start till:$now

  from:1887 till:1887 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Tongariro National Park]]
  from:1900 till:1900 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Egmont National Park]]
  from:1929 till:1929 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Arthur's Pass National Park]]
  from:1942 till:1942 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Abel Tasman National Park]]
  from:1952 till:1952 shift:($dx,-8) fontsize:S text:[[Fiordland National Park]]
  from:1953 till:1953 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park]]
  from:1955 till:1955 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Te Urewera National Park]]
  from:1957 till:1957 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Nelson Lakes National Park]]
  from:1960 till:1960 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Westland Tai Poutini National Park]]
  from:1964 till:1964 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Mount Aspring National Park]]
  from:1986 till:1986 shift:($dx,-8) fontsize:S text:[[Whanganui National Park]]
  from:1987 till:1987 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Paparoa National Park]]
  from:1996 till:1996 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Kahurangi National Park]]
  from:2002 till:2002 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Rakiura National Park]]
  from:2014 till:2014 shift:($dx,$dy) fontsize:S text:[[Te Urewera (protected area)|Te Urewera disestablished]]
 
</timeline>

==Proposed national parks==
The area centred on [[Waipoua Forest]], north of Dargaville, has been proposed as a possible Kauri National Park. The area contains most of New Zealand's remaining [[kauri]], including the largest known kauri, [[Tāne Mahuta]]. These stands of kauri are also valuable as havens for endangered species including the [[North Island brown kiwi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new+kauri+national+park+northland |title=Beehive&nbsp;— New Kauri National Park for Northland |work=beehive.govt.nz |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> This proposal is currently being investigated by the Department of Conservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister+welcomes+progress+kauri+national+park|title=Minister welcomes progress on Kauri National Park|date=11 February 2010|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=12 February 2010|location=Wellington, NZ}}</ref>

In response to a DoC proposal to upgrade the protection of [[Great Barrier Island]] (Aotea), [[Forest and Bird]] launched a campaign in 2014 to designate it as a National Park.<ref>[http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/files/file/Aotea%20National%20Park%20submission%20attachment.pdf Forest & Bird case for Great Barrier Island national park]</ref>

In 2020, the New Zealand National Party announced that they would create two new national parks if elected at the general election, namely Coromandel National Park and Catlins National Park.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12355547|title=Election 2020: National promises two more National Parks, great walks and to be predator-free by 2050|date=11 August 2020|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|first=Amelia|last=Wade}}</ref>

==Mining concerns==
In 2010 the New Zealand Government proposed removing some national park and conservation areas from Schedule 4 protection of the [[Crown Minerals Act]] which prohibits mining in those areas.<ref name="GREENZONE">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pollution/news/article.cfm?c_id=281&objectid=10630166&pnum=0|title=Miners press to enter the green zone|date=6 March 2010|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=26 March 2010|first=Geoff|last=Cumming}}</ref> In July the government abandoned the proposal after receiving a large number of submissions, most of which opposed mining.

==See also==
*[[Protected areas of New Zealand]]
*[[List of national parks]] for other national parks around the world.
*[[Regional parks of New Zealand]]
*[[Forest parks of New Zealand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|National parks of New Zealand}}
* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/ National Park information] at the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]]
* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/consultations/closed/kauri-national-park-proposal/ Kauri National Park proposal] at the Department of Conservation
* [https://teara.govt.nz/en/national-parks {{Aut|Swarbrick, Nancy}} – 'National parks'] in ''[[Te Ara]], The Encyclopedia of New Zealand'' (last updated 2015-08-15; accessed 2017-08-23).

{{New Zealand topics}}
{{National Parks of New Zealand}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Lists of national parks|New Zealand]]
[[Category:Lists of parks in New Zealand|National parks]]