For a relatively small island nation, New Zealand has extremely diverse landscapes, environments, and ecosystems. Historically, New Zealand's great environmental challenge was human intervention. Both the Maori and European settlers caused initial harm to the islands. Over time, the people and government took great strides to protect their native land, animals, and plants. Today, tourism continues to challenge NZ's natural habitats, yet strong conservation efforts continue to keep the remarkable landscapes in their purest form possible.