Application for a lease and licence concession by Kilbride Heritage Trust

Introduction

Have your say on an application by Kilbride Heritage Trust for a lease and licence in Rakiura National Park. Submissions close 28 April 2025.

This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application from:

Application details

Applicant: Knowles, Andrew; Knowles, Joy; Duston, Robert; Duston, Martin and Duston, Paul (known as Kilbride Heritage Trust)
Location of Proposed Activity: South end of Mason Bay, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
Concession type: Lease and licence
Summary of proposal: This application is to continue a lease for publicly bookable accommodation at Kilbride Homestead.

Kilbride Homestead is one of two historic farming homesteads still on site at Mason Bay on Stewart Island and was built in 1927. The lease area applied for is the footprint of the house and outbuildings on site, with a larger licence and hunting exclusion area to ensure the safety of those saying at the Homestead.
Concession applied for: Lease-licence for the purpose of accommodation

Application documents:

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.

Submissions close on Monday 28 April 2025. 

1. Prepare your submission

Record what you think on the submission form.

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard at a possible hearing in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.

2. Send us your submission

Send your submission by email or post. You'll get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.

Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz

Post:
Director-General,
Department of Conservation,
Ōtepoti/Dunedin Service Centre,
PO Box 5244, Dunedin 9054

Attention: Olivia Graham, Senior Permissions Advisor

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close:

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions and comments on the application.
  2. A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you will be contacted by DOC regarding this.
  3. DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
  4. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
  5. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.

Hearing details

If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur in late May 2025.

Decision

No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.

DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications

The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.  

Contact

If you have a question about the application or the submission process you can contact Olivia Graham, Senior Permissions Advisor.

Email: DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz