Story: Conservation – a history

Protest action

Protest action

Protesters from the Ecology Action Group marched through Wellington in July 1972. They wanted to draw attention to ecological disasters such as the introduction of animal predators, the extinction of native birds, and plans to raise the level of Lake Manapōuri.

There was growing public concern about conservation issues in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ecologist Charles Fleming, writing an editorial for the New Zealand Listener in 1969, argued that the preservation of native forest should have priority over economic development. Download the document to read the article (18 KB).

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1972/3700/9

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Simon Nathan, 'Conservation – a history - Environmental activism, 1966–1987', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/13936/protest-action (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan, published 24 Sep 2007, updated 1 Aug 2015