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Options Development Group

Introduction

Why the Options Development Group (ODG) was established, their objectives, what they do and who they are.

ODG report published

Read the ODG report.

Media release 8 April 2022: Report recommends changes to DOC Treaty implementation

The ODG is an independent body established in September 2020 to assist DOC in the partial reviews of the Conservation General Policy and General Policy for National Parks (the general policies). The ODG was asked to develop proposed changes to the general policies to better reflect Treaty partnership.

More about the partial reviews of the general policies.

The group was also asked to identify current limitations within DOC’s wider policy settings and legislation and possible remedies to these.

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Why the ODG was established

We held hui with whānau, hapū, and iwi in late 2019 where we sought feedback on the process for the partial reviews. We heard that the process should involve both local and national-level engagement with Māori.

The ODG was established to make sure the partial reviews of the general policies are guided by perspectives and insights from te ao Māori at a national level. In June 2020, the Director General asked whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori organisations and conservation board chairs to nominate people to work with us.

Objectives of the ODG

The ODG objectives are to:

  • consider how Treaty responsibilities are currently reflected in the general policies
  • update the description of Treaty principles in the general policies
  • consider how the general policies should reflect the recommendations made in Ko Aotearoa Tēnei
  • identify areas where the two general policies could be more consistent in the language around Treaty responsibilities
  • identify if changes are needed to legislation or other policies to remove any limitations to how DOC and others fulfil Treaty responsibilities.

What the ODG does

The responsibilities of the ODG includes:

  1. Reviewing the general policies and develop recommendations (and / or options) for change.
  2. Attending hui with whānau, hapū and iwi and workshops with conservation stakeholders to discuss their proposals for change. Find out more about ODG hui and workshops.
  3. Consider the views of whānau, hapū, and iwi and conservation stakeholders.
  4. Deliver a final report with recommendations or options for changes to the general policies.

The final report will be given to the Director-General in mid-2021. Public consultation will take place on the proposals in late 2021.

Detailed process for partial reviews of the general policies.

Who is on the ODG

As a collective, the members of the Options Development Group have expertise in:

  • tikanga and mātauranga taiao
  • conservation issues and practice
  • applying the principles of Treaty of Waitangi | Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • policy development and analysis

Of the 11 appointed members, 8 were nominated by whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations, and 3 were nominated by Conservation Board Chairs. There are a further 3 officials from DOC as ex-officio members.

More about the appointment process.

The appointees are:

Te ao Māori representatives

  • Hoani Langsbury
  • Tame Malcolm
  • Aroha Mead
  • Beverley Nawarihi Hughes
  • George Riley
  • Dr Valmaine Toki
  • Dion Tuuta
  • Steven Wilson

Conservation Board representatives

  • Mana Cracknell
  • Vicky Dombroski
  • Nicole McCrossin

DOC | Te Papa Atawhai officials

  • Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, Director, Policy
  • Jeff Flavell, Principal Policy Advisor, Policy Unit
  • Karl Beckert, Strategic Operations Manager, National Operations Unit

Find out about the members of the Options Development Group.

How to get involved

The Options Development Group has developed draft recommendations and from April to June 2021 will:

  • discuss the draft recommendations with whānau, hapū, and iwi in hui around the mōtu
  • meet with Conservation Boards to gather and understand their feedback, and
  • hold a workshop with key conservation stakeholders to understand their views on any possible changes.

ODG hui and workshops.

The feedback received will help inform the final report that the Options Development Group will present to the Director-General in July 2021.

Following this, the Director-General will consult the Minister and NZCA on the recommendations for change and technical drafts of the general policies will be prepared. This will involve a nationwide consultation process on the draft general policies with:

  • a call for public submissions, and
  • a series of public meetings.
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