6. Changes to Public Conservation Lands

Public conservation land is held under a range of legislation and classifications (e.g. national parks, conservation parks, stewardship areas, scenic and other reserves, and wildlife refuges; see Appendix 1). Its management was brought together in 1987 when the Department of Conservation was established. Additions to public conservation lands since 1987 have improved their representativeness and increased the area of New Zealand protected for future generations. This chapter covers further land acquisitions and exchanges, and potential changes to land classification or land disposal to adjust the level of legal protection.

This chapter refers only to public conservation lands. Marine protected areas are covered in 4.4.1, and conservation beyond public conservation lands is covered in chapter 7.

POLICIES

6 Changes to Public Conservation Lands

6 (a) Land acquisition or exchange (including boundary changes) may be undertaken to manage, for conservation purposes, natural resources or historical and cultural heritage; or for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, including public access, where the land has international, national or regional significance; or where land acquisition or exchange will either:

• i. improve representativeness of public conservation land; or
• ii. improve the natural functioning or integrity of places; or
• iii. improve the amenity or utility of places; or
• iv. prevent significant loss of natural resources or historical and cultural heritage; or
• v. improve the natural linkages between places; or
• vi. secure practical walking access to public conservation lands and waters, rivers, lakes or the coast; or
• vii. achieve any other purpose allowed for under the relevant Acts.

6 (b) Subject to statutory requirements, the classification of any public conservation lands may be reviewed from time to time to ensure that the classification of such lands continues to either:

• i. give appropriate protection and preservation for their natural resources, and/or historical and cultural heritage; or
• ii. give appropriate protection and preservation for their educational, scientific, community, or other special features, for the benefit of the public; or
• iii. enable integrated conservation management identified in conservation management strategies or plans; or
• iv. provide for access and enjoyment by the public where that is in accordance with the purposes for which the land is held; or
• v. reflect the values of public conservation lands that are present; or
• vi. enable specified places to achieve conservation outcomes in the future.

6 (c) Land disposal may be considered where the legislation to which it is subject allows for disposal and the land has no, or very low, conservation values.

6 (d) Subject to policy 6 (c), land disposal should not be undertaken where the land in question either:

• i. has international, national or regional significance; or
• ii. is important for the survival of any threatened indigenous species; or
• iii. represents a habitat or ecosystem that is under-represented in public conservation lands or has the potential to be restored to improve the representation of habitats or ecosystems that are under-represented in public conservation lands; or
• iv. improves the natural functioning or integrity of places; or
• v. improves the amenity or utility of places; or
• vi. improves the natural linkages between places; or
• vii. secures practical walking access to public conservation lands and waters, rivers, lakes or the coast.

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