 In New Zealand , mountain glaciers have been in general retreat since 1890 , with an acceleration since 1920 . Most have measurably thinned and reduced in size , and the snow accumulation zones have risen in elevation as the 20th century progressed . Between 1971 – 75 Ivory Glacier receded 30 m ( 98 ft ) from the glacial terminus , and about 26 % of its surface area was lost . Since 1980 numerous small glacial lakes formed behind the new terminal moraines of several of these glaciers . Glaciers such as Classen , Godley and Douglas now all have new glacial lakes below their terminal locations due to the glacial retreat over the past 20 years . Satellite imagery indicates that these lakes are continuing to expand . There has been significant and ongoing ice volume losses on the largest New Zealand glaciers , including the Tasman , Ivory , Classen , Mueller , Maud , Hooker , Grey , Godley , Ramsay , Murchison , Therma , Volta and Douglas Glaciers . The retreat of these glaciers has been marked by expanding proglacial lakes and terminus region thinning . The loss in Southern Alps total ice volume from 1976 – 2014 is 34 percent of the total . 
