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| | Encyclopedia: National parks (New Zealand) |
 | | Arthurs Pass National Park (1,144 km², established 1929) is a rugged and mountainous area straddling the main divide of the Southern Alps. |
 | | There are 13 national parks, covering just under 25,000 km², 20 forest parks covering some 18,000 km², about 3,500 reserves covering around 15,000 km², and some 610 km² of protected private land and covenants that have been set aside for scenic, scientific or ecological reasons. |
 | | The National Parks Act 1980 provides for the establishment of national parks or reserves in areas where the scenery is of such distinctive quality, or the natural features or ecological systems so important scientifically that their preservation is in the national interest. |
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