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Story: National parks

National parks, 2019

National Park Year established Area (hectares)
Tongariro 1894 78,618
Egmont 1900 34,170
Fiordland 1952 1,260,288
Arthur’s Pass 1929 118,472
Abel Tasman 1942 23,703
Aoraki/Mount Cook 1953 72,164
Nelson Lakes 1956 101,880
Westland Tai Poutini 1960 131,978
Mount Aspiring 1964 355,522
Whanganui 1986 74,191
Paparoa 1987 39,037
Kahurangi 1996 517,335
Rakiura 2002 139,960
Total area 2,947,318

This table shows the year that each national park was established, and its total area on 11 May 2019.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Department of Conservation

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, National parks – National parks – the beginnings, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/table/15241/national-parks-2019 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.