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Life in New Zealand Updated: 15 Dec 2009

The environment

In 1958, New Zealand “harvested” 183 humpback whales, yielding 1373 tons of whale oil, 400 tons of whale meat and 120 tons of bone dust. We’ve since given up the whale meat and belatedly embraced conservation of these, and other endangered animals.

But despite efforts over the last 50 years, distribution of key native species has continued to decline. Our national bird, the kiwi, has been reduced to 17 percent of its pre-human range, mohua (yellowhead) to five percent, and the kōkako to a dismal two percent.

Department of Conservation figures show threatened native plants and animals now number 2788. And we’re still losing native vegetation, critical for the survival of many indigenous fauna. Between 1997 and 2002, native hardwood forest declined by 1.22 percent, manuka and kanuka forest by 0.45 percent, and tall tussock grassland by 0.10 percent.

We also face the prospect of rising greenhouse-gas emissions – something that didn’t figure 50 years ago. Gross emissions have risen 22 percent since 1990. We have the dubious distinction of ranking 5th highest out of 27 OECD countries for greenhouse-gas emissions per person.