The Department of Conservation assists the Minister of Conservation in carrying out his or her functions under the Resource Management Act 1991. These include:
- Preparing and reviewing the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement
- Approving Regional Coastal Plans and any changes to them
- Deciding coastal permit applications for Restricted Coastal Activities
- Monitoring the effect and implementation of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and Restricted Coastal Activities
- Exercising powers of a regional council in the coastal marine area of specific offshore islands
- Exercising powers of intervention (if used)
- Vesting of reclamations