3.8 Ministerial services, and servicing statutory and ministerial bodies
The Department contributes to government priorities and the intermediate outcomes through effective ministerial servicing and support to statutory and ministerial bodies.
Ministerial services
Providing effective services to the Minister of Conservation includes writing submissions, drafting replies to Ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary questions, and responding to Ministerial requests for information.
Statutory and ministerial bodies
The New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) and the regional conservation boards are independent bodies established under the Conservation Act 1987.
The New Zealand Conservation Authority's role is to advise the Minister of Conservation and the Director-General of Conservation. It approves the statutory strategies and plans which set objectives for the Department's management of public conservation areas. Members are appointed for a three-year term and may be re-appointed. The next term of the authority is 1 June 2008 to 31 May 2011.
There are 14 conservation boards, each with a defined geographical area and up to 12 members. The boards are involved in conservation planning, policy, and management advice.
The Department provides services to the independent committees of Ngā Whenua Rāhui and the Nature Heritage Fund. These bodies administer contestable funds to help preserve natural heritage on Māori land and on private land, as discussed in section 3.2 in relation to intermediate outcome 3.
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