Variations of the Glaciers of Westland National Park and the Hooker Range, New Zealand

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Abstract
The post-glacial variations of 18 glaciers were studied, using maps, photographs, historical records, counts of growth rings of trees and shrubs, iicheno-metry, stages of development of vegetation, and 14C determinations. The advances and retreats of the last four centuries constitute a distinct glacial episode culminating between 1600 and 1850 A.D., and thereby equivalent to the “Little Ice Age” of the Northern Hemisphere. The main maxima appear to have occurred before about 1620, 1780, and 1830, and though retreat has prevailed subsequently, it has been interrupted by minor advances between 1890 and 1920, and in the 1930s, early 1950s, and mid 1960s. There were earlier glacial episodes, one apparently occurring before 4730 years B.P. another between 2570 and 2160 years B.P., and a third between 1510 and 1095 years B.P. In a stand of Nothofagus menziesii at timbcrline, trees growing up during the “Little Ice Age” developed a procumbent growth form as a result of excessive snow. In other forests, paucity of young trees of Libocedrus bidwillil, Dacrydium cupressinum, and Podocarpus spicatus reflects partial failure of regeneration during the same period.