Policies for the first National Conservation Policy Statement
This Regulatory Impact Statement analyses key policies for inclusion in the first National Conservation Policy Statement.

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Policies for the first National Conservation Policy Statement (PDF, 8104K)

Summary

The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) builds on decisions made by Cabinet in June 2025 to reform conservation land management, including to establish the National Conservation Policy Statement (NCPS). Regulatory Impact Statements prepared to support Cabinet’s broader decisions about the Conservation Amendment Bill are available at Regulatory Analysis Summaries.

In June 2025, Cabinet invited the Minister of Conservation (the Minister) to report back on policies for the NCPS to unlock economic activity, while protecting natural and historic resources.

This RIS covers four proposals for the NCPS that support Cabinet’s objective:

  • Guidance to focus area plans on information that directs regulatory decisions
  • Specifying a list of low-impact activities that will be exempt from or pre-approved for a concession
  • Designating conservation areas in terms of ‘visitor zones’ and providing guidance on where activities are more likely to be acceptable based on visitor zones and land classifications
  • Clarifying the approach to phasing out private accommodation on public conservation land (a discrete issue that affects a small group of people with concessions for long-held private accommodation).