Wilderness status and associated management issues in New Zealand

The physical setting and management status of the wilderness resource in New Zealand are outlined. The main ecological, recreational, and indigenous cultural issues currently affecting wilderness are also discussed. This includes brief descriptions of the continuing pressure of introduced animal and plant pests on indigenous biodiversity, the recreational conflicts related to wilderness use by aircraft, and some of the implications arising from re-emerging indigenous cultural issues. These cultural issues are related to an increasing official acknowledgment of the customary links of the indigenous Maori with the protected natural areas of New Zealand.