Human activities are destroying the natural world, leading to the extinction of animal and plant species at a terrifying rate.
Our actions threaten over one million species. And in New Zealand we have the highest proportion of threatened native species in the world, with more than 4000 at risk.
Some experts believe we are in the throes of the sixth mass extinction. In This Is How It Ends, a seven-part Stuff documentary series, Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor investigate the biodiversity crisis.
We rely on sanctuaries to keep rare species alive - but can we lock up nature forever?
ANDREA VANCE
Senior journalist
IAIN McGREGOR
Visual journalist
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WATCH EPISODE SEVEN:
THE ISLANDS
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Hokorereoro, Rangatira, or South East Island is the third largest island in the Chatham Islands archipelago.
Hokorereoro, Rangatira, or South East Island is the third largest island in the Chatham Islands archipelago.
The endemic Chatham Island black robin was reduced to a single breeding pair during the 1980s.
The endemic Chatham Island black robin was reduced to a single breeding pair during the 1980s.
Jemma Welch and Katelyn Whittaker-Prendeville, from the Department of Conservation, banding Chatham Petrel chicks on Rangatira.
Jemma Welch and Katelyn Whittaker-Prendeville, from the Department of Conservation, banding Chatham Petrel chicks on Rangatira.
A shore plover feeds at dusk.
A shore plover feeds at dusk.
A ruru/morepork at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, north of Dunedin.
A ruru/morepork at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, north of Dunedin.
Hokorereoro, Rangatira, or South East Island is the third largest island in the Chatham Islands archipelago.
Hokorereoro, Rangatira, or South East Island is the third largest island in the Chatham Islands archipelago.
Jemma Welch and Katelyn Whittaker-Prendeville, from the Department of Conservation, banding Chatham Petrel chicks on Rangatira.
Jemma Welch and Katelyn Whittaker-Prendeville, from the Department of Conservation, banding Chatham Petrel chicks on Rangatira.
The endemic Chatham Island black robin was reduced to a single breeding pair during the 1980s.
The endemic Chatham Island black robin was reduced to a single breeding pair during the 1980s.
A shore plover feeds at dusk.
A shore plover feeds at dusk.
A ruru/morepork at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, north of Dunedin.
A ruru/morepork at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, north of Dunedin.
If your biggest, strongest, tallest member of the forest family is sick, that sends a very strong message that something's not right.
A Chatham Island fantail flits across the Rangatira Island foreshore.
A Chatham Island fantail flits across the Rangatira Island foreshore.
A Rangatira spider, found on Rangatira, Houruakopara and Mangere Island.
A Rangatira spider, found on Rangatira, Houruakopara and Mangere Island.
The shore plover/tūturuatu number about 250.
The shore plover/tūturuatu number about 250.
Rangitahi Lake provides the water supply for Kaingaroa in the Chatham Islands.
Rangitahi Lake provides the water supply for Kaingaroa in the Chatham Islands.
Large-scale land clearing devastated both vegetation and native birds in the Chatham Islands.
Large-scale land clearing devastated both vegetation and native birds in the Chatham Islands.
Pitt/ Rangiauria/ Rangiaotea Island pictured from Rangatira.
Pitt/ Rangiauria/ Rangiaotea Island pictured from Rangatira.
A Chatham Island fantail flits across the Rangatira Island foreshore.
A Chatham Island fantail flits across the Rangatira Island foreshore.
A Rangatira spider, found on Rangatira, Houruakopara and Mangere Island.
A Rangatira spider, found on Rangatira, Houruakopara and Mangere Island.
The shore plover/tūturuatu number about 250.
The shore plover/tūturuatu number about 250.
Rangitahi Lake provides the water supply for Kaingaroa in the Chatham Islands.
Rangitahi Lake provides the water supply for Kaingaroa in the Chatham Islands.
Large-scale land clearing devastated both vegetation and native birds in the Chatham Islands.
Large-scale land clearing devastated both vegetation and native birds in the Chatham Islands.
Pitt/ Rangiauria/ Rangiaotea Island pictured from Rangatira.
Pitt/ Rangiauria/ Rangiaotea Island pictured from Rangatira.
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