Franz Josef
Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) is on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, flowing from the Southern Alps down to temperate rainforest valleys. Its length has varied (historical extents exceeded 11–12 km), but since the late 20th century it has undergone significant retreat and thinning; the lower tongue has retreated by several kilometers compared with mid-20th-century positions.
The glacier is highly dynamic — responding quickly to climatic variations — and its recent history shows repeated cycles of rapid retreat and short advances linked to changes in mass balance. Ongoing warming and reduced winter accumulation are the main drivers of its long-term shrinkage.