3. Management objectives and policies
Public conservation lands on the West Coast Te Tai o Poutini are valued for the intrinsic qualities of their natural heritage (such as natural landscapes, landforms, geology, waterbodies and indigenous biodiversity) and historical and cultural heritage and the wide range of recreational opportunities they provide. Under the Conservation Act 1987 and other legislation administered by the Department, management of all public conservation lands should protect and preserve these values. The desired future condition of these conservation values is described in Part 4 of this CMS. Part 3 outlines how the Department intends to achieve the outcomes presented within Part 4. The objectives and policies presented within Part 3 apply across the whole Conservancy (see Part 1, Chapter 1.4).
Part 3 is divided into eight management themes that apply across the entire Conservancy, as summarised below:
Working in partnership with tangata whenua
The Crown's Treaty responsibilities require the Department to work in partnership with Poutini Ngā i Tahu/Ngā i Tahu as the tangata whenua of all of the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy, aside from a small piece of land in Kahurangi National Park which is within the rohe of Te Tau Ihu Iwi. The Department aims to continue working towards building and enhancing practical on-the-ground relationships with both Papatipu Rūnanga (Te Rūnanga o Ngā ti Waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio) and with the iwi authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngā i Tahu, to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in its work.
Relationships with people and organisations
The Department must work closely with people and organisations. The goals of this CMS cannot be achieved without public support. The West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy therefore seeks to maintain close liaison and working relationships with local communities, local authorities, landowners, local and national conservation, environmental and recreation groups, the tourism industry, statutory agencies, industry, resource users, utility providers, associates and interest groups, and the New Zealand public in general.
Natural heritage conservation
The West Coast Te Tai o Poutinihas retained most of its natural character, in contrast to many other regions of New Zealand. It is a place dominated by mountains, glaciers, forests, lakes, flowing waters and large stretches of wild coastline.
Although the character of the pre-human past is still widely evident in much of the natural landscape, there have been significant changes. The West Coast Te Tai o Poutini contains the largest areas of lowland forest and wetland left in the country. However, forests and wetlands are now virtually absent on the fertile alluvial flats of the main river valleys and the low-lying coastal districts north of the Cook River Weheka . Mataī-tōtara forest is rare. Kōwhai-ribbonwood forest is rare. Mistletoes are declining. Significant stands of kahikatea forest are generally confined to the south. Native birds and invertebrates have been decimated by introduced predators like stoats, ship rats, kiore, feral cats and roaming dogs, and native forests and alpine vegetation are under sustained attack by possums, deer, tahr, chamois, goats and hares. Many indigenous species have become extinct (either locally or nationally), and many others are threatened with the same fate.
It is important for the Department, the people of the West Coast Te Tai o Poutiniand New Zealanders in general to be fully aware that, despite many notable achievements in the past, the task of conservation on the West Coast Te Tai o Poutiniis a work in progress. There are still many plant and animal species in this Conservancy whose future is uncertain. The fact that some of the more significant threats defy measures taken to control them prevents the Department from feeling any sense of complacency about its future mission on the West Coast Te Tai o Poutini, in respect of threatened species. There is also work to be done to achieve adequate protection of a representative sample of natural ecosystems outside existing protected areas, especially in the more modified parts of the Conservancy, and to promote practices that conserve natural heritage on all lands and waters on the West Coast Te Tai o Poutini. There is the increasingly urgent question of protection of the marine environment. The marine environment is an important and integral component of the natural heritage of the West Coast Te Tai o Poutinibut, as at 2010, no part of the open coast or sea has been legally protected for conservation purposes.
Historical and cultural heritage conservation
The West Coast Te Tai o Poutini has a history of Māori occupation dating back at least 700 years, and European and other non-Māori occupation dating back 150 years. Protection of historical and cultural heritage located within public conservation lands is the main focus for the Department's work on historic resources. The exact number of historic places within public conservation lands in the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy is unknown but is in the order of 900. The Conservancy actively manages many historic places. Although some do not require active management, all are vulnerable to natural deterioration and many are vulnerable to human-induced threats. Research and inventory work needs to be undertaken to identify, assess and document all historic places remaining in the Conservancy, and consequently to determine whether the suite of actively managed sites provides the best representative sample of the different types of historic resources present in the Conservancy's public conservation lands.
Working with the Historic Places Trust and interest groups and advocating for the protection of significant historical and cultural heritage on land beyond public conservation lands, are other important areas of ongoing work.
Authorised uses of public conservation land
Conservation legislation provides for people to use public conservation lands in a manner compatible with the protection of conservation values and enjoyment by other people. The Department, via delegated authority from the Minister of Conservation, is able to authorise appropriate private and commercial use of public conservation lands through a concession5 or some other form of authorisation (e.g. an access arrangement under the Crown Minerals Act 1991 for mining). Chapter 3.5 provides general guidance for all authorised uses, while specific guidance is provided 5 A concession means a lease, licence, permit or easement issued under Part 3B of the Conservation A ct, and includes any activity authorised by a concession document. in Chapter 3.6 about recreation and tourism concessions and in Chapter 3.7 about other types of authorised uses.
People's benefit and enjoyment
The full spectrum of recreational opportunities is available on West Coast Te Tai o Poutinipublic conservation lands, ranging from short-stop opportunities suitable for passing travellers or inexperienced recreationists through to multi-day opportunities suitable for experienced adventurers who prefer backcountry, remote or wilderness destinations. A wide range of facilities is provided throughout the Conservancy to cater for differing user needs.
The West Coast Te Tai o Poutini is a key destination for tourists. In 2004, international and domestic travellers made a total of 2.26 million visits to West Coast Te Tai o Poutini(Tourism Research Council New Zealand 2006). International overnight travellers accounted for 787,900 (34.8%) of these visits, domestic overnight travellers 722,500 (31.9%), international day travellers 291,800 (12.9%) and domestic day travellers 460,500 (20.4%). International visitor numbers are expected to increase during the term of this CMS. This will put pressure on existing facilities and may create new demands. For example, the Conservancy has few 'backcountry comfort seeker' facilities (such as the Heaphy Track) but backcountry comfort seeker facilities are becoming more popular with international visitors. Increases in user numbers may have negative impacts on other people and natural, historical and cultural values if not managed carefully. Managing the increasing requirements of commercial tourist operations in public conservation lands is a significant issue that must be addressed.
Other use of public conservation lands
A number of other activities take place on public conservation lands on the West Coast Te Tai o Poutini, many of which are important for the regional infrastructure and economy including the harvesting of sphagnum moss, gravel take, grazing, provision of utilities and large-scale mining. All applications for other uses are considered in accordance with the relevant legislation and this CMS. Authorised uses are monitored to ensure that the adverse effects of these activities are avoided, remedied or mitigated.
Other management responsibilities
The Department has several other management responsibilities in the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy, including obligations relating to international agreements, statutory land management (acquisition, non-regulatory protection mechanisms, exchange, disposal, and classification of land), statutory advocacy, public access to conservation land, national park and conservation management plans, compliance and law enforcement, and fire prevention and control.
5 A concession means a lease, licence, permit or easement issued under Part 3B of the
Conservation Act, and includes any activity authorised by a concession document.