Glossary

Active management

Used with reference to a planned programme of work that is required to maintain the values of specific places or objects.

Aircraft

Any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air otherwise than by the reactions of the air against the surface of the earth (Civil Aviation Act 1990).

Animal

Any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish (including shellfish) or related organism, insect, crustacean, or organism of every kind; but does not include a human being (section 2, Reserves Act 1977).

Any member of the animal kingdom other than a human being (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Authorisation

Collective term for all types of approvals by the Minister and the Director-General of Conservation provided for in a statutory process.

Biodiversity

The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Biosecurity

The exclusion, eradication or effective management of risks posed by pests and diseases to the economy, environment and human health.

Building

Has the same meaning as given to it by sections 8 and 9 of the Building Act 2004.

Concession

A lease, licence, permit or easement, granted under Part IIIB of the Conservation Act 1987, to enable the carrying out of a trade, occupation or business on areas managed by the Department of Conservation.

Conservation

The preservation and protection of natural and historic resources for the purpose of maintaining their intrinsic values, providing for their appreciation and recreational enjoyment by the public, and safeguarding the options of future generations (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Conservation boards

Conservation boards are established under section 6L of the Conservation Act 1987. The primary functions and powers of conservation boards are set out in the Conservation Act 1987 and the National Parks Act 1980 (sections 6M and 6N, Conservation Act 1987 and section 30, National Parks Act 1980).

Conservation management plan

A plan for the management of natural and historic resources and for recreation, tourism and other conservation purposes which implements a conservation management strategy and establishes detailed objectives for integrated management within a place or places specified in a conservation management strategy (section 17E, Conservation Act 1987).

Conservation management strategy

A strategy which implements general policies and establishes objectives for the integrated management of natural and historic resources and for recreation, tourism and other conservation purposes. A conservation management strategy is reviewed every ten years (section 17D, Conservation Act 1987).

Consultation

An invitation to give advice, and the consideration of that advice. To achieve consultation, sufficient information must be supplied and sufficient time allowed by the consulting party to those consulted to enable them to tender helpful advice. It involves an ongoing dialogue. It does not necessarily mean acceptance of the other party's view, but enables informed decision-making by having regard to those views.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

An international agreement on biological diversity that came into force in December 1993 following a meeting of governments in Rio de Janiero. The objectives of the Convention are: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.

Cumulative effect

An effect which arises over time or in combination with other effects (section 3, Resource Management Act 1991).

Customary use

Gathering and use of natural resources by tangata whenua according to tikanga.

Ecological integrity

The full potential of indigenous biotic and abiotic factors, and natural processes, functioning in sustainable habitats, ecosystems, and landscapes.

Ecosystem

A biological system comprising a community of living organisms and its associated non-living environment, interacting as an ecological unit.

Ecosystem services

A wide range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that are part of them, help sustain and fulfil life.

Effect

Any positive or adverse effect; and any temporary or permanent effect; and any past, present or future effect; and any cumulative effect which arises over time or in combination with other effects regardless of the scale, intensity, duration, or frequency of the effect and also includes any potential effect of high probability; and any potential effect of low probability which has high potential impact (section 3, Resource Management Act 1991).

Encampment

Non-designated site used for the purpose of shelter or camping on either:

(a) a permanent or semi-permanent basis by private individuals or groups; or

(b) for more than short-term use by private individuals or groups.

Environment

Includes (a) ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and (b) all natural and physical resources; and (c) amenity values; and (d) the social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions that affect those matters (Resource Management Act 1991).

Eradicate

To remove completely.

Facilities

Facilities that enable people to enjoy a range of recreational opportunities including (but not limited to): visitor and information centres, camping areas, tracks and walkways, bridges, backcountry huts, roads, car-parking areas, toilets, picnic areas, signs and interpretation panels, viewing platforms, wharves and boat ramps.

Fire Officer

Person appointed as a Rural Fire Officer pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977.

Fish and game council

Statutory body with functions pertaining to the management, maintenance and enhancement of the sports fish and game resource in the recreational interests of anglers and hunters (section 26P, Conservation Act 1987).

Fishery

One or more stocks or parts of stocks or one or more species of freshwater fish or aquatic life that can be treated as a unit for the purposes of conservation or management (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Freshwater fish

Includes finfish of the Classes Agnatha and Osteichthytes, and shellfish of the Classes Mollusca and Crustacea, that must at any time in the life history of the species, inhabit freshwater; and includes finfish and shellfish that seasonally migrate into and out of freshwater (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Game birds

The wildlife declared to be game specified in the First Schedule to the Wildlife Act 1953. As at the date of the adoption of this General Policy they are all birds, viz: black swan, Canada goose, chukar, grey duck, mallard duck, paradise duck, spoonbill duck, partridge, red-legged partridge, pheasant, pukeko, Australian quail, Californian quail and Virginian quail.

Habitat

The environment within which a particular species or group of species lives. It includes the physical and biotic characteristics that are relevant to the species concerned.

Historical and cultural heritage

Any building or other structure, archaeological site, natural feature, wāhi tapu, or object, associated with people, traditions, events or ideas, which contribute to an understanding of New Zealand's history and cultures.

Historic place

(a) Means-

• i. any land (including an archaeological site); or
• ii. any building or structure (including part of a building or structure); or
• iii. any combination of land and a building or structure,− that forms part of the historical and cultural heritage of New Zealand and lies within the territorial limits of New Zealand; and

(b) includes anything that is in or fixed to such land (section 2, Historic Places Act 1993).

Historic resource

Means a historic place within the meaning of the Historic Places Act 1993; and includes any interest in a historic resource (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Indigenous species

Refers to plants and animals that have established in New Zealand without the assistance of human beings and without the assistance of vehicles or aircraft. This includes species that are unique to New Zealand as well as those that may be found elsewhere in the world. Use of the words 'indigenous' and 'native' have the same meaning in this General Policy.

Information

Includes interpretation.

Integrated conservation management

The management of natural resources, and historical and cultural heritage, and existing or potential activities in a manner which ensures that priorities are clear and that the effects of each activity on others are considered and managed accordingly.

Intellectual property rights

Ownership of knowledge or vested interest in the ownership of knowledge.

Intrinsic value

A concept which regards the subject under consideration as having value or worth in its own right independent of any value placed on it by humans.

Kaitiakitanga

The exercise of guardianship by the tangata whenua of an area in accordance with tikanga. In relation to a resource this includes the ethic of stewardship based upon the nature of the resource itself.

Kaitiaki

Guardian.

Mana

Prestige; authority.

Marine protected area

An area of sea especially dedicated to or achieving the protection and maintenance of biodiversity at the habitat or ecosystem level, and managed through legal or other effective means.

Marine reserve

A marine area constituted as a marine reserve under the Marine Reserves Act.

Mātauranga Māori

Māori traditional knowledge.

Mauri

Essential life force, the spiritual power and distinctiveness that enables each thing to exist as itself.

Mining

Means to take, win or extract by whatever means, a mineral existing in its natural state in land, or a chemical substance from that mineral, for the purpose of obtaining the mineral or chemical substance; but does not include prospecting or exploration; and "to mine" has a corresponding meaning (Crown Minerals Act 1991).

National park values

The values outlined in section 4 of the National Parks Act 1980.

Natural

Existing in or produced by nature.

Natural character

The qualities of an area which are the result of natural processes and taken together give it a particular recognisable character. These qualities may be ecological, physical, spiritual or aesthetic in nature.

Natural quiet

Natural ambient conditions in a natural area; the sounds of nature.

Natural resources

Plants and animals of all kinds, and the air, water, and soil in or on which any plant or animal lives or may live, and landscape and landform, and geological features, and systems of interacting living organisms, and their environment, and includes any interest in a natural resource (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Natural state

Unmodified by human activity or introduced plants or animals.

New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy

A government-approved national strategy (2000) providing an integrated response to New Zealand's declining indigenous biodiversity, prepared in part to meet a commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

New Zealand Conservation Authority

A national body of 13 appointed members established under section 6A of the Conservation Act 1987. Amongst other functions, it has the statutory responsibility for approving General Policy for national parks, conservation management strategies and plans and national park management plans (section 6B, Conservation Act 1987 and section 18, National Parks Act 1980).

Outcome

A goal or end result of a conservation action or series of actions.

Participation

The contribution of effort, information and ideas towards the work of the Department.

Partnership

The relationship between individuals or groups that is characterised by mutual cooperation and responsibility for the achievement of a specific goal.

People and organisations

An inclusive phrase used to refer to all individuals, clubs, companies, councils and other organisations and groups, both public and private, with an interest in the policies of and actions undertaken by the Department of Conservation in relation to public conservation land and waters and species management.

Personal mobility device

A device designed to transport one person, is propelled by hand or a propulsion system with a maximum speed of 15 km per hour, and is ridden by a disabled person.

Pest

Any organism, including an animal, plant, pathogen or disease, capable or potentially capable of causing unwanted harm or posing significant risks to indigenous species, habitats and ecosystems or freshwater fisheries.

Place

An area identified in a conservation management strategy or plan for the purposes of integrated conservation management. It may include any combination of terrestrial, freshwater and marine areas and may be determined by a range of criteria including but not limited to: ecological districts, geological features, catchments, internal departmental, regional or district council or rohe/takiwā boundaries, land status, major recreation or tourism destinations, commonality of management considerations, unique management needs.

Pounamu

New Zealand greenstone, as defined in the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997.

Prescribed burning

The controlled application of fire, under specified conditions, to achieve a fire of required intensity and rate of spread to attain planned management objectives.

Pou whenua

Marker pole or post.

Preservation

In relation to a resource, means the maintenance, so far as is practicable, of its intrinsic values (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi

The principles of the Treaty of Waitangi identified from time to time by the Government of New Zealand.

Private accommodation

Place to live or lodge which is not available to the general public on an open basis.

Protected areas

Terrestrial, freshwater and marine areas that are protected primarily for the purpose of the conservation of natural resources and historical and cultural heritage, using a range of legal mechanisms that provide long-term security of tenure, status or land use purpose, either privately or publicly owned.

Protection

In relation to a resource, means its maintenance, so far as is practicable, in its current state; but includes:

(a) its restoration to some former state; and

(b) its augmentation, enhancement, or expansion (section 2, Conservation Act 1987).

Public conservation lands and waters

Lands and water areas administered by the Department of Conservation for whatever purpose, including the natural and historic resources of those areas covered by this General Policy. Reserves administered by other agencies are not included in this definition.

Recreational freshwater fisheries

Means any freshwater fisheries where the fishing of sports fish and indigenous freshwater fish is lawfully carried out for recreational purposes.

Reserve

Reserve has the meaning given to that term in the Reserves Act 1977 and includes the following reserves: recreation, historic, scenic, nature, scientific, government purpose, local purpose (section 2, Reserves Act 1977).

Restoration

The active intervention and management of modified or degraded habitats, ecosystems, landforms and landscapes in order to restore indigenous natural character, ecological and physical processes and their cultural and visual qualities; or for historic heritage, to return a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state.

Road

Means:

(a) a road that is formed and maintained for vehicle use by the public;

(b) a route that is marked by the Department for vehicle use by the public or identified in a conservation management strategy or conservation management plan for use by vehicles generally or for a particular type of vehicle (for example a bicycle) or as a vehicle parking area.

Rohe

Geographical territory of an iwi or hapū.

Site

A defined area within a wider place.

Species

A group of organisms which has evolved distinct common inheritable features and occupies a particular geographical range, and which is capable of interbreeding freely but not with members of other species.

Sports fish

Every species of freshwater fish that the Governor-General may declare to be sports fish for the purposes of the Conservation Act 1987; examples are trout and salmon.

Sports fish and game management plan

Plan approved by the Minister of Conservation under section 17M of the Conservation Act 1987.

Takiwā

Place or territory used by or associated with an iwi, hapū or whanau.

Tangata whenua

Iwi or hapū that has customary authority in a place.

Taonga

Valued resources or prized possessions held by Māori, both material and non-material. It is a broad concept that includes tangible and intangible aspects of natural and historic resources of significance to Māori, including wāhi tapu and intellectual property.

The Crown

Her Majesty the Queen acting through ministers and departments of state.

Tikanga

Māori custom, obligations and conditions.

Utilities

Includes but not limited to: structures and infrastructure for telecommunications; energy generation and transmission; sewerage; water supply and flood control; oil and gas; roads and airstrips; hydrological and weather stations.

Vehicle

Means any device that is powered by any propulsion system and moves on rollers, skids, tracks, wheels, or other means; and includes any device referred to previously from which the propulsion system has been removed; or the rollers, skids, tracks, wheels, or other means of movement have been removed; and does not include:

(a) a pushchair or pram;

(b) a child's toy;

(c) a personal mobility device used by a disabled person.

Viability

The ability of a species or a community to persist over time.

Wāhi tapu

Place sacred to Māori in traditional, spiritual, religious, ritual or mythological sense (Historic Places Act 1993).

Wetlands

Permanent or intermittently wet areas, shallow water or land-water margins. They include swamps, bogs, estuaries, braided rivers, and lake margins.

Whakapapa

Recounting of genealogical lineage; genealogy.

Whanau

Family groups.

Wild animal

Has the meaning set out in the Wild Animal Control Act 1977 and includes: possums, deer, wallabies, thar, wild goats, wild pigs, and chamois (section 2, Wild Animal Control Act 1977).

Wilderness Area

Any conservation area set aside as a Wilderness Area under section 18 of the Conservation Act 1987.

Wildlife

Any animal (as defined as in the Wildlife Act 1953) that is living in a wild state; and includes any such animal or egg or offspring of any such animal held or hatched or born in captivity, whether pursuant to an authority granted under the Wildlife Act 1953 or otherwise; but does not include wild animals subject to the Wild Animal Control Act 1977 (section 2, Wildlife Act 1953).

World Heritage Site

A site designated under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Convention as being of outstanding universal value as a site of cultural or natural heritage.

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