Passing of the Forest

Available October 2026 – pre-order now!

Cultural and art historian Richard Wolfe profiles the devastation of native forests in a striking visual history through art, from the nineteenth century to today.

‘Although New Zealand was the last sizeable habitable landmass to be settled by humans … the impact on its native forest has been little short of dramatic.’

The Passing of the Forest explores how large areas of forests were burned by Māori, and then European setters – lured to New Zealand by the promise of an inexhaustible supply of timber. It draws parallels with colonisation elsewhere, showing how deforestation has impacted on leading artists and thinkers, and explores ways forward to replace what has been lost.

Featuring more than 50 colour reproductions from New Zealand and Australian artists, this book is a timely exploration of environmental loss and the human impact on New Zealand’s forests.

ISBN 9781991353054

216 pages, 280 x 210 mm