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Southland Conservancy Office
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Phone:
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+64 3 211 2400
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Fax:
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+64 3 214 4486
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Email:
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invercargill@doc.govt.nz
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Address:
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Level 7
CUE on Don
33 Don Street
Invercargill 9810
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Postal Address:
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P O Box 743
Invercargill 9840
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The Southland Conservancy includes some of the most diverse and magnificent areas of native forest and indigenous grasslands found anywhere in New Zealand. From the rugged peaks of Fiordland National Park (New Zealand's largest at 1,257,000 ha) to the wild and lonely Subantarctic Islands the conservancy is home to some of our rarest and most endangered native birds. Here the kākāpo and takahē are making the long journey back from the brink of extinction and there are good populations of South Island kākā.
For management purposes, the conservancy is divided into three areas, each with its own office and staff. The conservancy headquarters is in Invercargill.
On mainland New Zealand the conservancy manages approximately 1,898,850 hectares of land, which is 53% of the total area of Southland within the Conservancy boundary. This includes the Takitimu, Snowdon, Eyre and Blue Mountains, and the forests of Western Southland including Waitutu, which is managed under covenant as if it was national park.
Other significant areas include Rowallan, Longwoods and Dean forests; the Pembroke and Glaisnock Wilderness Areas. Offshore the conservancy has New Zealand's newest national park, Rakiura on Stewart Island which was opened in March 2002. The five subantarctic island groups Auckland, Snares, Campbell, Bounty and Antipodes Islands, were given World Heritage Status in 1999.
Given the diverse landscapes of the Southern region and it being the habitat for some of New Zealand's most endangered flora and fauna, ecotourism operations are prominent.
Recreation and tourist activities in the conservancy are high from adventure tourism to hunting and fishing. Fiordland National Park is also part of the Te Wāhipounamu - Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area.
Recreation tourism concessions
Approximately 140 concessions have been granted for various activities of this nature for example, guided walking, scenic boating, kiwi spotting and helicopter landings.
Southland Conservancy's concessionaires assist the department in providing visitors to the area with interpretation and education, a safe environment to experience our unique natural areas and where appropriate, access to places that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Concessionaires in Southland readily contribute to conservation projects and play an integral part in helping visitors enjoy the spectacular conservation estate in the deep south.
Resource use concessions
There are about 220 resource use concessions under lease, licence, permit or easement for telecommunication facilities, grazing, housing, huts, gravel extraction, rights of way, wharves, sewerage plants, hydro plants and other structures, facilities and activities on land administered by the department in Southland. In addition there are a number of access arrangements for mineral interests.
Protection on private land
Southland Conservancy staff have a busy programme working with private landowners who are interested in protecting values on their own land. As a consequence of past negotiations, wetlands, forests and open tussock country have been protected through both covenants and land purchase agreements negotiated with those landowners. The department welcomes enquiries from any landowner interested in securing protection of natural values on their land.
Budget/staff
Southland Conservancy operates on an annual budget of approx. $17.8 million which is partly funded from revenue generation of approximately $5.8 million. Revenue is derived generally from concession licenses, rentals and hut fees.
The conservancy employs about 146 permanent staff (full time equivalent), and a further 41 temporary and seasonal staff (full time equivalent).
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