Whether accidentally, or by design, humans have had a great impact on the face of New Zealand.
Once covered in up to1.5 million hectares of kauri forests, fire and axe brought that to just 0.5 percent of what it was.
Until one thousand years ago, the only flora and fauna present was as the result of natural forces.
But within the first 600 years of Maori habitation, 38 native species were lost - and more disappeared with the arrival of European settlers.
The land was carved through to set up critical rail lines, and more recently, massive highways. We've dammed and diverted rivers,and cleared forests and productive land for housing.
So what's the lasting impact of all of this? Richard Wolfe unravels the history and considers our future in his 41st book: Footprints on the Land: How Humans Changed New Zealand
Photo: Supplied
