DOC's role in tenure review
Advisory role
Under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998, the Department of Conservation is principal adviser to the agency responsible for tenure review - Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).
Some components of a tenure review require Director-General of Conservation consent, such as concessions over proposed conservation land, and covenants. This, however, does not amount to a veto over the proposed split of conservation and freehold land.
A wrybill nesting on eggs
DOC's advice to LINZ is on the "significant inherent values" - landscape, indigenous species and ecosystem biodiversity, public recreation opportunities, and historic and cultural heritage - present on lands entering tenure review. DOC also recommends the type of protection these values should have; from covenants through to full Crown ownership. This advice is one of many inputs into LINZ' negotiations with leaseholders on tenure review deals.
LINZ consults DOC about the annual tenure review programme - including how many new properties can be accommodated and which tenure reviews should have priority.
Management role
The Department will take on management responsibility for any lands returning into full Crown ownership arising out of tenure review. DOC will have objectives for that land, most of which are set out in the legislation under which the land will be held (Reserves Act 1977, Conservation Act 1987) and in conservation management strategies.
The Government allocated $79 million to tenure review in Budget 2004. Of this, $18 million resourced DOC in its advisory role to LINZ on the conservation values of individual leases, and to administer new conservation lands, for example, constructing huts and tracks, and managing animal pests and weeds.
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