Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/
Introduction
Have your say on any changes in status of reptiles in Aotearoa New Zealand. Consultation closes on 21 July 2025.Summary
This is a call for advice about any changes in status of reptiles in Aotearoa New Zealand, to inform a revision of the assessment for this group in the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS).
View the current list giving the status of 135 taxa in Hitchmough et al. 2021, Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2021 (PDF, K).
Data can be accessed on the NZTCS website.
An expert panel will meet to review the classification of reptiles in Aotearoa New Zealand including use of supplied information.
An assessment will be made based on a scientific approach using two criteria:
- the size of the population or estimated area of occupancy
- the expected trend (amount of decline or increase) for each taxon (species, subspecies, variety, etc.), regardless of whether it is taxonomically determinate (having a formal scientific name) or indeterminate (having an informal ‘tag name’).
How to contribute
Note that this consultation process is intended to provide information to the expert panel, not to lobby for a particular outcome.
Guidance on the criteria used to assess the status of species is available in the NZ Threat Classification Manual 2022 (PDF, K).
Consultations close on 21 July 2025.
Complete the consultation form or draft your information in a word document or in an email.
Send us your information
Send your information by email or post. You'll get a confirmation email or letter when your information has been received.
New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS)
Insights and Analytics Team
Department of Conservation
PO Box 10420
Wellington 6140
Email: threatstatus@doc.govt.nz
Separate advice should be provided for each species (or subspecies, variety, etc).
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.
Background information
The New Zealand Threat Classification System allows the classification of conservation status/risk of extinction of all organisms known to occur in a wild state in New Zealand. Endemics, non-endemic natives, migrants, vagrants, and introduced and naturalised species are all included, as are taxa which have not been formally described.
The NZTCS is not a priority-setting system. It is a resource to support priority setting, among other functions.
Panels of experts from New Zealand’s scientific community determine conservation statuses by assessing:
- population size - number of breeding adults or the area of occupied habitat
- forecast change in population size - over either the next three generations or 10 years, whichever is longer
- whether the current state of the population is a result of human-induced effects.
Groups of organisms are assessed approximately every five years.
The assessments of each group of organisms, for example, birds, reptiles, vascular plants, marine mammals, are published as scientific monograph series which are considered part of the formal international scientific literature.
View PDF copies of the assessment reports are publicly available on at New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS).
The assessment data are also publicly available on the NZTCS database.
Contact
Email us at threatstatus@doc.govt.nz if you need any assistance or clarification about this consultation process.