General Policy
Section 44 of the National Parks Act 1980 provides for the adoption by the New Zealand Conservation Authority (the Authority) of statements of general policy (General Policy) that give both direction and guidance to conservation managers and to communities on how to preserve and protect these special areas and the indigenous species in them. In particular, the purpose of this General Policy is to implement the National Parks Act 1980 and to provide consistent national direction for the administration of national parks through conservation management strategies and national park management plans. The three types of planning documents have a hierarchy that derives from linked requirements in the National Parks Act 1980 and the Conservation Act 1987. Specifically:
- General Policy implements and cannot derogate (i.e. detract) from legislation;
- conservation management strategies implement general policies approved under the National Parks Act 1980 and other Acts and cannot derogate from any general policy; and
- a national park management plan cannot derogate from any relevant conservation management strategy.
The effect of these requirements is that the national park management plan for a national park has to be consistent with the General Policy for National Parks. If a course of action is proposed or an issue arises on which a national park management plan is silent, the General Policy (as well as the National Parks Act 1980 and the relevant conservation management strategy) will still need to be taken into account for any direction or guidance it gives on the issue. Specifically, the Department of Conservation (the Department) is required, subject to the National Parks Act 1980 and in accordance with this General Policy, and any conservation management strategy and national park management plan covering a national park, to "administer and manage all national parks in such manner as to secure to the public the fullest proper use and enjoyment of the parks consistent with the preservation of their natural and historic features and the protection and well-being of their native plants and animals." (section 43, National Parks Act 1980)
The decision to revise the 1983 General Policy for National Parks was made by the Authority in December 2001.
This General Policy retains the essence of the 1983 General Policy for National Parks. It continues to provide a framework for the development of conservation management strategies and national park management plans and, through these documents, the identification of what conservation outcomes are to be sought at specific places. However, the General Policy avoids undue prescription in terms of how those outcomes will be achieved so that managers can adjust their operations in the light of new technology and resources.
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