Tongariro National Park
Factors affecting the property in 1995*
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- Management activities
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1995
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1995**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1995
The site was inscribed under natural criteria on the World Heritage List in 1990 and as a cultural landscape in 1993. In May 1995 the Centre received information from the local Maori community about the random dropping of 1080 poison on Mount Tongariro to combat the possum browse which threatens indigenous flora. The Centre contacted the New Zealand authorities and received an answer from the Department of Conservation indicating that the possum population had increased since its introduction to New Zealand and that its growing population is a matter of grave concern. From a Maori perspective, however, the notion of controlling the opossum population is an alien one to their culture. The Department held consultations with the community, which agreed to a time-limited operation, which would not contaminate waterways and which would not threaten the community.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1995
The Bureau may wish to take note of this report, commending the national authorities for their consultations with the Maori community.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1995
19 COM VII.A.2.18/19
SOC: Tongariro National Park (New Zealand)
VII.18 Tongariro National Park (New Zealand)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed under natural criteria on the World Heritage List in 1990 and as a cultural landscape in 1993. The Centre informed the Committee that it received information from a member of the local Maori community about the dropping of 1080 poison on Mount Tongariro to-combat the possum browse which threatens indigenous flora, and that the Department of Conservation had held consultations with the community, which agreed to a time-limited operation, which would not contaminate waterways. The Committee took note of the report.
As no specific action is required, the Committee is recommended to take note of the information provided in the working documents.
New ZealandExports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
