The Press in New Zealand says that South Island natural wonders could join the ranks of the pyramids, Stonehenge and the Grand Canyon, with The Kahurangi National Park, along with Farewell Spit, Waikoropupu Springs and the Canaan Karst System, having been put forward as a single nomination for World Heritage Site status, along with the waters and seabed of Fiordland’s fiords.
The two South Island sites have been given priority for attention on a list nominating eight New Zealand sites and The Department of Conservation has also nominated the art deco quarter of Napier, Kerikeri basin, the Waitangi treaty grounds, Kermadec Islands, the Auckland volcanic field and Whakarua Moutere.
World Heritage Site status has already been granted to three natural wonders in New Zealand but no urban site has yet achieved it.
New Zealand landmarks recognised are Tongariro National Park, the New Zealand sub-Antarctic Islands and Te Waipounamu, the 26,000sq km area that includes Mount Cook National Park, Westland National Park, Fiordland National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park and Milford Sound.
The shortlist was announced on the eve of a UN world heritage meeting that opened in Christchurch on Saturday.
Report by The Mole and The Press
