Why would DOC submit on my resource consent application?
Firstly, it's important to remember that DOC, conservation land and public resources are affected by the RMA in the same ways as private land and the general public. There are RMA controls over public conservation land and DOC work (like taking water to supply huts and camp sites, and discharges of sewage and other materials), which must comply with RMA requirements. There are some exceptions to DOC needing a resource consent, but that is only where the activity has already been allowed for as part of a plan or strategy.
DOC manages conservation land for the general public, and it is also charged with protecting and preserving New Zealand's natural and historic resources. This means that DOC has a statutory interest when it submits about applications for consents that may affect the public's interest in those values.
- DOC makes submissions on proposals by other people that may have adverse effects on public resources and on matters which the Department is legally responsible for e.g. the protection of native species.
- If a planned action is likely to affect DOC's responsibilities/interests to look after public conservation land, then it will submit about it. It's the same as if it was a neighbour or a concerned party.
For example, if someone wants to take water from an area, DOC may submit if it is likely to affect native wildlife like blue duck or indigenous freshwater fish.
Recreational freshwater fisheries. Both DOC and Fish and Game Councils have functions relating to recreational freshwater fisheries, but the Fish and Game functions are to do with sports fish in particular. Trout and salmon are the most important of those. Fish and Game Councils also have responsibilities to do with game birds. Just as DOC prepares planning documents and follows a process which allows for the public to have their say by writing in with their views, so too does Fish and Game for sports fish and game birds. Those plans cannot be contrary to what a conservation management strategy or national park management plan says for public conservation land. People with a particular interest in Fish and Game responsibilities can find out more about it at www.fishandgame.org.nz.
High country tenure review. The Department of Conservation does not run the high country tenure review process. High country tenure review is a voluntary process between the Crown and pastoral leaseholders run by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The process allows for the Crown and a leaseholder to review an area under lease with a view to the lease being cancelled and significant inherent values being given long-term protection under Crown ownership and management. The leaseholder has the opportunity to freehold the remaining parts of the lease. The Department of Conservation is one of the agencies that has a role to identify areas with significant inherent values in a pastoral lease after it has entered the tenure review process. For more information on tenure review, visit www.linz.govt.nz.