National parks of New Zealand

The National Parks Act of 1980 was established in order to codify the purpose, governance and selection of national parks. It begins by establishing the definition of a national park:

It is hereby declared that the provisions of this Act shall have effect for the purpose of preserving in perpetuity as national parks, for their intrinsic worth and for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public, areas of New Zealand that contain scenery of such distinctive quality, ecological systems, or natural features so beautiful, unique, or scientifically important that their preservation is in the national interest.

— National Parks Act 1980, Part 1, section 4, subsection 1[5]

The National Parks Act goes on to state that the public will have freedom of entry and access to the parks, though this is subject to restrictions to ensure the preservation of native plants and animals and the welfare of the parks in general. Access to specially protected areas (550 km²) constituted under the act is by permit only. Under the Act, national parks are to be maintained in their natural state as far as possible to retain their value as soil, water and forest conservation areas. Native plants and animals are to be preserved and introduced plants and animals removed if their presence interferes with the natural wildlife. Development in wilderness areas established under the act is restricted to foot tracks and huts used for wild animal control or scientific research.

This table lists the current and former national parks from north to south.

National Park	Image	Area km2[6]	Established	Location	Number of DOC huts	Description
Abel Tasman National Park		237	1942	40°50′S 172°54′E	7	The smallest national park, this tourist destination has numerous tidal inlets and beaches of golden sand along the shores of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere. "Doing the Abel Tasman" as a tramping or kayaking journey is a common activity.
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park*		722	1953	43°44′S 170°6′E	16	An alpine park containing New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki / Mount Cook (3,724 m) and its longest glacier, Haupapa / Tasman Glacier (29 km). A hotspot for mountaineering, ski touring and scenic flights, the park is an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Arthur's Pass National Park		1,185	1929	42°57′S 171°34′E	28	A rugged and mountainous area straddling the main divide of the Southern Alps.
Egmont National Park		342	1900	39°16′S 174°6′E	8	This park comprises the land about a nine-kilometre radius of Mount Taranaki and some outlying areas to the north. The symmetrical cone of the dormant volcano is a provincial landmark.
Fiordland National Park*		12,607	1952	45°25′S 167°43′E	51	The largest national park in New Zealand and one of the largest in the world, the park covers the southwest corner of the South Island. The park's scenery, with its deep fiords, its glacial lakes, its mountains and waterfalls, make it a popular tourist destination.
Kahurangi National Park		4,529	1996	41°15′S 172°7′E	51	Situated in the north-west of the South Island, Kahurangi contains spectacular and remote country, including the well-used Heaphy Track. Ancient landforms and unique flora and fauna add to the value of New Zealand's second largest national park.
Mount Aspiring National Park*		3,562	1964	44°23′S 168°44′E	19	A complex of glaciated mountain scenery centred on Mount Aspiring / Tititea (3,033 metres (9,951 ft)), New Zealand's highest peak outside of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.
Nelson Lakes National Park		1,019	1956	41°49′9″S 172°50′15″E	20	A rugged, mountainous area in Nelson Region. It extends southwards from the forested shores of Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa to the Lewis Pass National Reserve.
Paparoa National Park		430	1987	42°5′S 171°30′E	2	On the West Coast of the South Island between Westport and Greymouth. It includes the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.
Rakiura National Park		1,400	2002	46°54′S 168°7′E	24	Covering about 85% of Stewart Island / Rakiura, this is the newest of the national parks.
Te Urewera National Park (disestablished 2014)		2,127	1954	38°45′S 177°9′E	29	Together with neighbouring Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, Te Urewera is the largest remaining stand of native forest in the North Island. Lake Waikaremoana, is noted for its scenic shoreline. Since 2014 it has been a protected area meeting the International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria for Category II – National Park, but it is no longer a national park, instead being run under a special agreement between the Crown and the Tūhoe iwi.
Tongariro National Park*		786	1887	39°12′S 175°35′E	10	New Zealand's first national park, recognised as one of the 27 World Heritage Sites that are of both outstanding natural and cultural value. Gifted to the Crown by Te Heuheu Tūkino IV, the park includes several sacred Māori sites and three active volcanoes, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro.
Westland Tai Poutini National Park*		1,320	1960	43°23′S 170°11′E	12	Extends from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to a wild remote coastline. Included in the park are glaciers, scenic lakes and dense rainforest, as well as remains of old gold mining towns along the coast.
Whanganui National Park		742	1986	39°35′S 175°5′E	5	Bordering the Whanganui River, it incorporates areas of Crown land, former state forest and a number of former reserves.