Not too long ago, an area of unspoiled land near Kahurangi National Park in New Zealand was at the center of a major environmental row as developers sought to take over the land. Now that land has received special protection and will become the largest addition to a national park in New Zealand’s history. A total of 64,400 hectares, which is more than half the size of the city of Aukland, will be added to Kahurangi National Park, including a 15km stretch of previously unprotected riverbed. New Zealand isn’t the only one passing laws to expand their wilderness areas; recently, the US passed a lands package that designated over 1.3 million acres as nationally-protected wilderness. Hurray conservation!