My Precious Environment: The Kermadecs

UNSPOILT: The Kermadec region is one of the last relatively untouched wilderness areas of the planet, writes Anna Thomson.

Just a few hundred kilometres from mainland New Zealand, within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), there’s an ocean region of incredible diversity with dramatic landforms, unspoiled oceans and hundreds of species.

The Kermadec region, which lies between New Zealand's North Island and Tonga, is one of the last relatively untouched wilderness areas of the planet.

The region was created by the violent collision of two continental plates, and as a result it's significant for its geology including the exceptionally deep Kermadec trench and an arc of undersea volcanoes.

It is home and transit lounge of many species of birds, whales and dolphins, fish, turtles, sharks and other unique sea creatures, and it’s ours.

The Kermadec Exhibition is on now at City Gallery, Wellington. 

We support a Kermadec sanctuary, find out more here: Twitter: @thekermadecs,www.facebook.com/thekermadecs, www.thekermadecs.org.

Anna Thomson writes on behalf of the Pew Environment Group.

View original article on www.stuff.co.nz