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A sea of crown ferns and a lack of bush understory in the outreaches of the mainland of Fiordland National Park, close to Kisbee Bay in Preservation Inlet, tells the story of deer invasion and their devastating impact. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

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Inside New Zealand’s forest of the living dead

Even at the most inaccessible western edge of Fiordland National Park deer are destroying the forest. Mary Williams boarded a boat to see it first hand.

Mary WilliamsSenior Reporter

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Updated, Monday, September 7, 2026

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