New Zealand | World Heritage Explorer

New Zealand has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1984. It is home to 3 World Heritage Sites. A significant share of its sites are natural properties, highlighting the country's landscapes and biodiversity.

New Zealand as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: November 22, 1984

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 2003-2007

Total of Mandate Years: 4

Total of Mandates: 1

WHC Electoral Group: IV (Asia/Pacific)

World Heritage Sites in New Zealand (3)

Cultural: 0 | Natural: 2 | Mixed: 1

New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands · Natural
Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand · Natural
Tongariro National Park · Mixed

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in New Zealand.

Tentative World Heritage Sites (8)

Auckland Volcanic Fields · submitted: March 30, 2007
Waters and seabed of Fiordland (Te Moana O Atawhenua) · submitted: March 30, 2007
Kahurangi National Park, Farewell Spit and Canaan karst system · submitted: March 30, 2007
Kerikeri Basin historic precinct · submitted: March 30, 2007
Kermadec Islands and Marine reserve · submitted: March 30, 2007
Napier Art Deco historic precinct · submitted: March 30, 2007
Whakarua Moutere (North East Islands) · submitted: March 30, 2007
Waitangi Treaty Grounds historic precinct · submitted: March 30, 2007

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile New Zealand

Official Name: New Zealand

Continent: Oceania

Subregion: Australia and New Zealand

UNESCO Region: Asia and the Pacific

Capital: Wellington

Population (2024): 5,338,500

Land Area: 263,310 km²

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party New Zealand

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

Portions of this page are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset. Changes made. Original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE) is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Commission. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.