Fiordland National Park (1,260,740 ha), in the southwest of the South Island, is the largest national park in New Zealand, and is one of the largest in the world.
In 1986 Fiordland National Park was recognised as a World Heritage Area. In 1990 the area was renamed Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area and extended to include Westland, Aspiring and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks.
Location map of Fiordland National Park
The park contains hundreds of islands ranging in size from small rock stacks up to Resolution Island (20,860 ha). In total, the land area of Fiordland islands exceeds 40,000 ha.
Islands provide sites where integrated biodiversity management is often more cost effective than on the mainland due to lower numbers and types of pests, and lower reinvasion rates. Some islands have never had rats, mice, or brushtail possums present. The Fiordland Islands Restoration Programme seeks to conserve the high ecological values of selected islands through removing unwanted animal and plant pests, and the re-introduction of threatened fauna.
When compared to the adjacent mainland, the flora of Fiordland Islands is very diverse and relatively intact.
The over-arching goal of the Fiordland Islands restoration programme is to remove significant pest species from the islands.
Implementation of the Fiordland Islands programme follows DOC best practice.
The Fiordland Islands restoration programme has formed scientific partnerships with several organisations and individuals in order to establish robust monitoring programmes.
Find out about the lessons learnt so far through the Fiordland Islands programme.
Find out about the various community organisations that are also involved in restoration work in the Fiordland Islands.
Find out about further reading on the Fiordland Islands restoration programme.