National parks of New Ingerland

National Parks
IUCN category II (national park)
Brassey National Park from the River Tobin
Visitors	1.8 million (in 2015)
Managing authority	Royal National Parks Service

National Parks are the most popular form of protected area in New Ingerland. National parks make up 0 square miles (0 km²) or 0.00% of the total area of the country. The modern national park system was created in 1968, replacing an earlier system dating back to the 1890s. Modern national parks aim to protect native flora and fauna from development, but importantly also provide opportunities for education, rest and relaxation for people of New Ingerland.

National parks are managed by the Royal National Parks Service. Information is provided at each park through a visitors centre, and the Service also manages and maintains the various recreational facilities that can be found within the parks. Unlike nature reserves and wilderness parks, recreation is an important function of all national parks. All have camping areas and tramping tracks, and many also have additional facilities and opportunities for enjoying the 'great outdoors'.

Overview

National Parks are defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as:

A natural area of land and/or sea, designated to (a) protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations, (b) exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the area and (c) provide a foundation for spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally compatible.

List of National Parks

Name	Photo	Location	Date established	Area	Recreation visitors (2015)	Description
Brassey		Naylors Gap, ABNY	11 July 1975	0 square miles (0 km2)	56,780	Noted for a rich diversity of plants and animals, rainforest, extensive wilderness, scenic wild rivers, and opportunities for outdoor recreation in a remote location. Brassey also contains a number of Ngati Mōri fortifications and other sites where initiation ceremonies were held.
Mount Alexander		Mount Beacon, CENT	12 February 1890	0 square miles (0 km2)	265,500	New Ingerland's first national park, established in 1890. Location of the highest mountain in the archipelago after which the park is named, features numerous glaciers, scenic lakes, and dense rainforests.
Mount Taumata		Taumata, CENT	2 December 1978	0 square miles (0 km2)	65,250
Tāhuahua		Port Cod, BEAU	9 August 1980	0 square miles (0 km2)	88,650	A popular tourist destinationm Tāhuahua has numerous tidal inlets and beaches of golden sand along the shores of the Kermadec Sea. Hiking or kayaking various routes of the park is a popular activity.