Story: Kauri forest

Opening of Waipoua Forest Sanctuary

One of New Zealand’s first high-profile conservation controversies was the battle to save Waipoua Forest from logging. Acquired by the government in 1874, it became a state forest and there were plans to mill the kauri trees there in the 1940s. Zoology professor Roy McGregor led a campaign to preserve the trees, which culminated in a petition to Parliament signed by 50,000 people. The forest was made a sanctuary in 1952.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: Weekly Review 333. National Film Unit, 1948

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How to cite this page:

Joanna Orwin, 'Kauri forest - Protecting kauri', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/10046/opening-of-waipoua-forest-sanctuary (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Joanna Orwin, published 24 Sep 2007