Acclimatisation societies in New Zealand

By 1869, it was receiving £500 per year from the Otago provincial government to bring in familiar British species, notably small birds, such as starlings, blackbirds, sparrows, chaffinches, of which populations thrive around Dunedin today.

[1] Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society was formed in 1868, with land purchaser and politician, Donald McLean, as its first president.

Their first committee was: Hunter, Pearce, Krull, Laing, Bannatyne, Denton, Travers, G. Bennett, W. Levin and Dr Johnston.

[6][7] Their annual report for 1885 asked that it be noted it was not responsible for the introduction of rabbits, that deer and hares had become numerous but pheasants and quail had been greatly decreased by the use of poisoned grain, the practice of poaching and the liberation of stoats, weasels and ferrets.

[8] The Canterbury acclimatisation society was known for some more unusual introductions including the African Lion.