POLICIES 4.1 Terrestrial and freshwater species, habitats and ecosystems

4.1 (a) Each conservation management strategy and plan should include identification of:

• i. indigenous species and their habitats and ecosystems;
• ii. recreational freshwater fisheries and freshwater fish habitats; and
• iii. game birds and, on public conservation lands and waters, their habitats.

4.1 (b) Each conservation management strategy or plan should establish management objectives for indigenous species and their habitats and ecosystems and recreational freshwater fisheries and their habitats, consistent with planned outcomes at places, for the purposes of:

• i. prevention of the loss of indigenous species and the full range of their habitats and ecosystems;
• ii. maintenance of representative examples of the full range of indigenous ecosystems;
• iii. maintenance of populations of indigenous species, habitats and ecosystems with unique or distinctive values;
• iv. recovery of threatened indigenous species (including their genetic integrity and diversity), and restoration of their habitats where necessary;
• v. restoration of threatened indigenous ecosystems where necessary;
• vi. maintenance of the ecological integrity of indigenous ecosystems consistent with the purposes for which the land is held; and
• vii. protection of recreational freshwater fisheries and freshwater fish habitats.

4.1 (c) Restoration of habitats and ecosystems should use locally sourced indigenous species except where the presence of introduced species is required for the preservation of indigenous species or is consistent with the purposes for which the land is held.

4.1 (d) Absolutely protected wildlife, as defined in the Wildlife Act 1953, may be held in captivity only where there is a clear benefit for conservation.

4.1 (e) Customary use of traditional materials and indigenous species may be authorised on a case by case basis where:

• i. it is consistent with all relevant Acts and regulations (including fisheries legislation), conservation management strategies and plans;
• ii. it is consistent with the purposes for which the land is held;
• iii. there is an established tradition of such customary use at the place; and
• iv. the preservation of the indigenous species at the place is not affected.

The views of tangata whenua should be sought and had regard to.

4.1 (f) Fishing for whitebait and eels in reserves may be authorised only where:

• i. it is consistent with all relevant Acts and regulations (including fisheries legislation);
• ii. it is consistent with the purposes for which the land is held;
• iii. the preservation of the indigenous freshwater fisheries and the maintenance of the range and stocks are not affected; and
• iv. it is provided for in the conservation management strategy or plan.

4.1 (g) Whitebait fisheries should be managed to prevent declines in species abundance and range.

4.1 (h) The Department, the New Zealand Fish and Game Council and regional fish and game councils, in carrying out their respective functions, will liaise with each other on matters of mutual interest.

4.1 (i) The release of sports fish into waters in public conservation land should be authorised where:

• i. sports fish of the same species are already present;
• ii. release is consistent with the purposes for which the land is held;
• iii. subject to the above criterion, the protection of the indigenous freshwater fisheries and their habitat is not adversely affected; and
• iv. such releases are provided for in a sports fish management plan or, in its absence, an operational work plan approved by the Minister of Conservation.

Note: At a June 2007 meeting of the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) a minor change was made to the wording of the section on the General Policy for National Parks relating to the use of traditional materials and indigenous species.

The Chairperson of the NZCA, Kerry Marshall, said that "Following representations from and consultation with Ngai Tahu, and having also received advice from the Department of Conservation and considered the views of the Minister, the Authority has decided that it is appropriate to include all customary use of traditional materials and indigenous species under one policy."

Customary use is defined in the policy as "Gathering and use of natural resources by tangata whenua according to tikanga."

The Minister of Conservation, Hon Chris Carter, decided to make a similar change to the Conservation General Policy, sections 2(g) and 4.1(e).

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