Proposals to modernise conservation released

Date:  15 November 2024 Source:  Office of the Minister of Conservation

Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures

“Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is releasing two discussion documents for public consultation, and I encourage all New Zealanders to read them and share their views.

“The world has changed considerably since the Conservation Act was enacted in 1987. These proposals are intended to bring our conservation system up to date, better protect biodiversity, and enhance our ability to manage growing tourism sustainably.”

Proposals to modernise conservation land management include:

• Simplifying conservation rules to make protecting natural areas easier.
• Reducing red tape for eco-tourism and business to promote responsible access and boost regional economies.
• Maximising benefits from commercial activities on conservation land to support nature and local communities.
• Developing amenities areas that protect nature while enhancing manuhiri (visitor) experiences.
• Increasing flexibility for whenua (land) exchanges or disposals that align with conservation and community needs. 

“We’re also consulting on a proposal to introduce access charges for some public conservation areas, which could create new revenue streams to support the maintenance and upkeep of our most iconic landscapes,” Mr Potaka says.

“Access fees are widely used internationally to help maintain popular sites sustainably including by our closest neighbour, Australia. This could provide us with a valuable tool for securing pūtea (monies) for conservation and infrastructure in areas experiencing high visitor demand.”

Key questions for public feedback on access charges include:

• Who should be charged – should fees apply only to international visitors or also to Kiwi tourists?
• Where should charges apply – what types of locations are suitable for such fees?
• How should revenue be used – which conservation projects and priorities should benefit from these fees?

“By updating the legislation, we aim to create a conservation system that protects New Zealand’s natural heritage, supports sustainable tourism, builds economic resilience, and strengthens partnerships with local Iwi,” Mr Potaka says.

“These changes are not only about safeguarding our taiao (environment); they’re also about fostering thriving regional communities, enhancing cultural connections to the land, and creating opportunities for local businesses. Together, we can ensure that future generations will enjoy our treasured landscapes and unique biodiversity as much as we do today.”

The discussion documents are available on the Department of Conservation website. Consultation closes in late-February 2025.

Kua rewa ngā marohitanga mō te whakahou i te whāomoomo

Toitū te taiao

E whiriwhiri ana te Kāwanatanga i ētahi marohitanga e whai nei ki te whakahou i te pūnaha whakahaere whāomoomo, ko te whāinga ko te whakahaumaru i ngā wāhi taiao e hāngai ana me te tautoko tonu i te whanaketanga toitūtanga i te tāpoitanga me ngā ōhanga ā-rohe. 

“Nō te rangi tonu nei ka tuku atu Te Papa Atawhai i ētahi puka matapaki e rua hei whiriwhiri mā te hapori, ā e akiaki ana ahau i ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa ki te pānui i ēnei puka me te tuku mai i ō rātou ake whakaaro. 

“He nui ngā panonitanga i pahawa rā i te ao mai i te wā o te Conservation Act i te tau 1987. Ko te takunetanga o ēnei marohitanga ko te whakahou i tō tātou pūnaha whāomoomo, te whakapai ake i tā tātou whakahaumaru i te rerenga rauropi, me te whakapakari i tō tātou āheinga ki te takahi i tētahi ara toitū e whakahaerehia ai te tāpoitanga e whanake tonu nei. 

Koinei ngā marohitanga e whai nei ki te whakahou i te whakahaeretanga o te whenua whāomomo:

• Te whakangāwari i ngā ture whāomoomo hei whakamāmā ake i te mahi whakahaumaru i ngā wāhi taiao.
• Te whakamimiti i ngā ture aukati i te tāpoi tautaiao me ngā pakihi hei whakatairanga ake i te uru haepapa, hei whakangako hoki i ngā ōhanga ā-rohe. 
• Te whakanui ake i ngā painga e ahu mai ai i ngā mahi arumoni i runga i ngā whenua whāomoomo hei tautoko i te taiao me ngā hapori. 
• Te waihanga i ngā wāhi tukuora e haumaru ai te taiao me te whakaihiihi tonu i ngā wheako o ngā manuhiri. 
• Te whakangāwari i ngā hātepe e hāngai ana ki te whakawhiti whenua me te porowhiu whenua, me te whakahāngai tonu i ēnei hātepe ki te mahi whāomoomo me ngā matea o te hapori. 

“Kei te whiriwhiri hoki mātou i tētahi marohitanga e whai nei ki te whakatū i te utu uru ki ētahi wāhi whāomoomo tūmatanui, mā ēnei utu pea ka hua mai ētahi ara moniwhiwhi hou hei tautoko i te tautiaki me te pupuri tonu i ētahi o ō tātou horanuku rongonui rawa. 

“Puta noa i te ao, ka whakamahia ngā utu uru hei āwhina i te mahi tautiaki i ētahi wāhi rongonui me te hāpai tonu i te toitūtanga, arā e pērā ana i Ahitereiria. Mā tēnei ara ka riro pea he tino rauemi hei kohi pūtea mō te mahi whāomoomo me te tūāhanga i ngā wāhi e kaha haerehia ana e te manuhiri.” 

Koinei ngā pātai matua hei whakahoki kōrero mā te hapori whānui mō te utu uru:  

• Mā wai te utu – mā ngā manuhiri nō tāwāhi anake, mā ngā wae tāpoi nō Aotearoa anō hoki rānei?  
• Me utu te uru ki ēhea wāhi – ko ēhea ngā wāhi me utu te uru atu? 
• Me pēhea te whakamahi i te moniwhiwhi – ko ēhea ngā kaupapa whāomoomo me ngā whakaarotau whāomoomo me whai hua i ēnei utu?  

“Mā te whakahou i te ture, e whai ana mātou ki te waihanga i tētahi pūnaha whāomoomo hei whakahaumaru i te tuku ihotanga o te taiao, hei tautoko i te tāpoitanga toitūtanga, hei whakawhanake i te manawaroa ōhanga, hei whakapakari hoki i ngā rangapū ki ngā iwi,” hei tā Potaka. 

“Ehara i te mea ko te whakahaumaru i te taiao anake te whāinga o ēnei panonitanga; ko ētahi atu whāinga ko te tiaki i ngā hapori e taurikura ana, ko te whakangako i ngā hononga ā-ahurea ki te whenua, me te whakarite āheitanga ki ngā pakihi ā-rohe. Mā tātou katoa ka mātua whakarite te whakangahau tonu a ngā uri whakaheke ki ō tātou horanuku e aroha nuitia ana me tō tātou rerenga rauropi motuhake, pērā i a tātou e whai wāhi atu ana ki ēnei nā i tēnei wā.” 

E wātea ana ngā puka matapaki ki te paetukutuku a Te Papa Atawhai. Ka kati te whiriwhiri hei te whakamutunga o Pēpuere 2025.

Proposals

Exploring charging for access to some public conservation land

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