Page 7 - 2008 NZ SUB ANTARCTIC ISLANDS - SMARTPHONE

testimony resides in the evident pride that New Zealanders of mixed blood feel about their dual
ancestry! And many of them are fostering Maori language and history instruction in the schools
for all young New Zealanders. This too is a tribute to the “highly evolved” status of Homo
Sapiens New Zealandiensis.

Chapter 3. The Department of Conservation

Recognized around the world among biologists, conservationists, and ecologists for its advanced
techniques and success in managing despoiled habitats and crashing bird populations, New
Zealand’s Department of Conservation has indeed worked environmental wonders since its
establishment in 1987. However, it must also be recognized that without the support of the
nation’s citizenry, this remarkable record could not have been achieved. Indeed, the Kiwis have
been strong supporters of policies, procedures, and restrictions that have implemented the
restoration of their country’s natural world. Latest polls reported on the Department’s Website
reveal that nearly 70% of the population approves of the work the Department is accomplishing!

In 1987, responding to the huge losses in unique and endemic bird species, the government
passed the Conservation Act which brought over one-third of New Zealand’s land area under the
control of the newly constituted Department of Conservation. Previously separate agencies, such
as the Forest Service, Wildlife Service, Department of Lands and Survey and National Park
Service were subsumed under the new larger umbrella agency. DOC, as it is affectionately and
appreciatively called by the Kiwis, thus gained unified control of all the efforts at restoring New
Zealand’s erstwhile paradise. The agency’s challenge as written into the Act was “to manage the
nation’s natural and historical assets for the greatest benefit and enjoyment of all New
Zealanders, by conserving, advocating, and protecting the natural and historical heritage so that
its values are passed on undiminished to future generations.” The leadership and the members of
the department have taken that challenge on directly and have achieved results that are now the
benchmarks for other countries and organizations attempting to accomplish similar ameliorations
in their natural environments. Scientists and program directors from nations all around the world
visit New Zealand to study DOC’s methods and achievements.

One other significant official act that has promoted DOC’s work and affected most directly the
areas we were privileged to visit on this trip was the granting of the New Zealand Subantarctic
Island World Heritage Site designation in 1998 by UNESCO. While this is the most significant
global honor a site can receive, it confers no protection, monetary reward, or management for the
area. The individual country wherein the site is located has all that responsibility. However,
recently the World Heritage Site Convention has taken steps to withdraw the designation in cases
where the site is exploited, reduced in size, despoiled or otherwise damaged. Such a step has
been taken in Saudi Arabia and on Montserrat Island in the Caribbean among others. Of course
the threat of embarrassment inherent in such a “punishment” is meant to encourage protection.
Needless to say, New Zealand so zealously protects its environmental treasures that it is not under
any threat of losing World Heritage Status.

These Subantarctic Islands are so well protected that DOC allows only 600 tourist visits a year on
each one of them. Tour companies must purchase these “tickets to visit paradise” from DOC,
thus creating a source of income for the Department. Furthermore, even with the permission
granted, visitors must be accompanied by a representative from DOC to insure that rules and
regulations are followed. The rules cover such things as staying on designated trails, keeping
appropriate distances from all creatures on the islands, disinfecting boots before stepping onto the
island and when returning to the ship, carrying nothing onto the island such as food or drink or

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