Beyond Manapouri

Dive into the critical environmental history of New Zealand with 'Beyond Manapouri: 50 years of environmental politics in New Zealand.' This insightful paperback by Catherine Knight offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of environmental policy and administration since the late 1960s, a pivotal era marked by the fight against the proposed hydro dam at Lake Manapouri. This book is a must-read for anyone passionate about environmental conservation and ecological issues in New Zealand. With 272 pages of rich content, it not only details significant legal frameworks that have emerged to protect New Zealand's natural landscapes but also highlights the growing public participation in environmental decision-making processes. Knight’s narrative unveils the challenges we face today, from deteriorating waterways to declining biodiversity and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Contributing to environmental education, this book encourages readers to ponder why we are still grappling with critical environmental crises despite established laws and institutions. Additionally, it reveals the cultural shifts necessary to maintain New Zealand's esteemed 'clean and green' image. Perfect for environmentally-conscious readers, students, and advocates, 'Beyond Manapouri' is an essential addition to your collection on New Zealand's environmental challenges and triumphs, beautifully illustrated and engagingly written.

Author: Catherine Knight Publisher: Canterbury University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 155 x 230 mm
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 01-06-2018

‘Beyond Manapouri: 50 years of environmental politics in New Zealand’ traces the evolution of environmental administration in New Zealand since the dawn of the ‘environmental era’ in the late 1960s. The national campaign to stop the government from raising the water level in the scenically spectacular Lake Manapouri for a hydro dam is widely credited with the awakening of environmental awareness in New Zealand.Since then, New Zealand has established institutions and legislation dedicated to managing our environment, and the public’s ability to participate in environmental decision-making has been strengthened markedly. At the same time, New Zealanders’ knowledge and awareness of environmental issues have also increased. Even so, the latest reports on our environment indicate that all is not well: our waterways continue to deteriorate, our biodiversity is in decline and our greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb. ‘Beyond Manapouri’is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand why, in spite of the legislation and institutions put in place to improve the stewardship of our environment, we’re now facing more urgent environmental issues than ever before. In this richly illustrated and engagingly written history, Knight also identifies the cultural shifts that will need to take place if we are to live up to the ‘clean, green’ image we have constructed for ourselves in New Zealand. Catherine Knight is the author of ‘New Zealand’s Rivers: An environmental history’(CUP, 2016) which was long-listed for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2017, short-listed for the New Zealand Heritage Book Awards and selected as one of the Listener’s Best Books for 2016. Her 2014 book ‘Ravaged Beauty: An environmental history of the Manawatu’ (Dunmore Press) won the J.M. Sherrard Award in New Zealand Regional and Local History, and Palmerston North Heritage Trust’s inaugural award for the best work of history relating to the Manawatu. Catherine is a policy and communications consultant and lives with her family on a small farmlet in the Manawatu.