Beekeeping on public conservation land
If you’d like to put beehives on public conservation land, follow these application guidelines.

We will need to review the suitability of any site where you'd like to host host hives on conservation land. This is to ensure hives are suitable for the location and will not have a negative impact on the environment.

Pre-application meeting

Pre-application meeting

Applying for a concession for the first time can be a little tricky. To ensure your application goes smoothly we advise you to contact us to have a pre-application meeting. We’ll help you to:

  • Understand the concession you will need to apply for.
  • Navigate our statutory planning documents, so you can consider whether the activity you wish to undertake is consistent with them.
  • Understand DOC’s responsibility to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which requires consultation with Treaty Partners on most applications. If you wish, DOC can help you contact the local iwi, hapū, and whānau to assess whether your proposed activity will have any cultural effects. Often this consultation can enhance the activity you are considering.

How to apply

Download and complete the below forms to apply: 

Email your forms along with any requested documents to permissions@doc.govt.nz.

Find out more about the process and how to prepare your application.

Permissions application process

Preparing a permission application

If your application is approved, we will send you a contract which you must sign and return before you place your hives.

If your application is declined, we will send you a letter outlining why.

Help us process your application faster

To reduce delays in processing your application, try to provide the following information in your application:

  • the full name and status of the land (use DOC Maps to help you)
  • the specific locations or co-ordinates of where the hives will be placed and how they will be transported there
  • the number of hives
  • if you intend to keep hives on site throughout the year or for a specific time period
  • where hives will come from before they are placed
  • if you intend to transport hives around the country (when not on Public Conservation Land).

Note: If you intend to fly beehives onto the site, you will need an aircraft concession.

Timeframe

Complex applications could take a number of months to be processed.

Find out more at How long it takes to process an application

Application fees

The fee for a standard application is $2065 plus GST.  However, if your application is deemed complex, the standard application fee is $2565 plus GST.

When we receive your application, we'll provide you with a cost estimate. If we believe further work will be needed on it, and there will be additional costs.

You will be provided with an updated cost estimate, and be invoiced once your application is processed.

You will also be required to pay ongoing concession and activity fees.

Activity returns

Your pre-populated template will be emailed to you when your return is due. The email will include a user guide with step-by-step instructions showing you how to fill in the Excel spreadsheet.

This way of working is intended to be easier for you to consistently provide the data required to complete your activity return. Due dates for activity returns remain the same.

What to do:

  1. Click on the emailed template attachment to open it.
  2. Save it to your computer.
  3. Fill in your activity return details and save again.
  4. Email it to us as soon as possible.

If you have ‘nil’ activities to report, reply to your reminder email, stating your nil activity and the reason for this. Do not forget to quote your permission number.

If you want the pre-populated template earlier, email us. Be sure to include your permission number.

Contact us

Email: TransactionCentre@doc.govt.nz

Contact us

For more information or assistance with your concession contact the nearest of these DOC offices.