Environmental movement in New Zealand

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The earliest major environmental issue in New Zealand was the prospect of raising the level of Lake Manapouri for a hydro-electricity scheme. In 1969 a nation-wide "Save Manapouri Campaign" started and was successful in preventing the lake level from being raised. Other major issues have included nuclear energy, preventing native forest logging on the West Coast and halting the growing of GE food crops.

The environmental movement eventually spawned the Values Party, which was the first political party with a strong focus on environmental issues to contest national elections.

As of 2005 the environmental movement is active in many areas including opposition to new high voltage power pylons, preventing new open cast coal mines and protecting marine ecosystems,