The New Zealand Mountain Lands Institute replaces the Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute which was established in 1961 with L.W. McCaskill as its first Director. The prime function of the Institute is to advise government on the development of comprehensive and consistent policies for the use of mountain land resources. The Review of the New Zealand Mountain Lands Institute was published from 1989 to 1992 with four issues produced in that period.