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Story: Introduced animal pests

Loss of forest

Choose year:

  • 2000 AD

  • 1840 AD

  • c. 1000 AD

Since humans arrived in New Zealand, around 1250–1300 CE, some three-quarters of the original forest cover has been lost.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Bob Brockie, Introduced animal pests – Impact of animals on the bush, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/10097/loss-of-forest (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bob Brockie, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.