The annual Conservation Boards Chairs’ Conference October 2025

This year the annual Conservation Boards Chairs’ Conference was held at Area Events in Wellington on 4 and 5 October. Tāne Davis and I were the Authority members present at the conference. I would like to thank the chairs who were able to attend for their time and for their insightful contributions to the discussions at the conference. The report we received after the chairs only session provided valuable feedback, and I am working with the NZCA staff on the actions from that report.

There was a request for a copy of conservation boards’ NZCA liaison and representative factsheet to be shared. A copy of this can be found attached to this letter, this is a guide for the Authority members and what is expected of them in their roles as liaisons.

October NZCA Meeting

The October meeting was an out-of-town meeting held in Kaitaia as an opportunity to meet with the Te Hiku o te Ika a Māui Conservation Board and mana whenua within the board’s rohe.

The meeting was preceded by a field trip which gave the Authority the opportunity to engage with mana whenua as well as local DOC staff and hear about their engagement with local stakeholders.

Field Trip Overview

On behalf of the Authority, I would like to extend our thanks to Mina Pomare-Peita (Chair of the Te Hiku o te Ika a Māui Conservation Board), Annwyn Buchanan (Board Support Officer), Phelan Pirrie (Statutory and Community Manager), and Sue Reed-Thomas (Regional Operations Director) for hosting us and organising the field trip.

The Authority along with members of the Te Hiku o te Ika a Māui Conservation Board, and Department staff boarded a bus from the Kaitaia DOC office and went to three site visits over the course of the day. We first visited the Raetea Ngahere where we were generously hosted by Te Rarawa, they had organised three demonstrations to show the conservation work they have been doing through their Te Taiao Te Rarawa which included their water quality work, pest control, and kauri ora, working to stop kauri die back.

For our second visit we were hosted by Ngāi Takoto and visited Lakes Ngatu and Waiparera that had been a part of their dune lakes restoration programme. They talked about the restoration work they had been undertaking previously under the Jobs for Nature fund, and how the closing of this fund has slowed down Ngāi Takoto restoration efforts.

For the third site visit we went further north to Te Kao to visit Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, where we were hosted in their offices by their CEO. We agreed to address some concerns raised by Te Aupouri, with the Department.

Te Hiku o te Ika a Māui Conservation Management Strategy

The Te Hiku o te Ika a Māui Conservation Management Strategy is in the final stages of approval, we are just waiting for final responses from mana whenua and the Minister before it can be approved. Well done to everyone that has worked hard on this mahi.

Director General session

Penny Nelson (Director General DOC) provided an update on the Department to the Authority during the meeting.

A team from the Department won the Māori Crown Award / Te Tohu mō Whai Ratonga at the 2025 Spirit of Service awards for Tongariro Alpine Crossing Sustainability project. There is huge potential to roll this way of working out to other places, with Aoraki potentially to be the next location.

The Always be Naturing campaign is going well, as well as the roll out of the One NZ partnership. This will add $13 million in value into conservation over next five years.

Penny discussed the new commercial strategy, in which there are five focus areas looking at generating more revenue by the Department which can be put into nature and conservation. The Department is focusing on a strategy to improve visitor services, attract new partnerships, drive new revenue, transform visitor services, harness nature and carbon market opportunities, and conservation gains through regulations. There is an advice group for this strategy, and they will liaise with Iwi throughout this process.

The upcoming election next year has started to impact Department planning in regard to legislation. Following the passing of the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025 the Department is now focused on the implementation planning. The next focus for the Department is the Conservation Law Reform, however this has been delayed and will likely not go to the House till next year. The Policy team are also intending to look at the Wildlife Act where concessions are managed by other parties.

The next Authority meeting will be held in Wellington on 3 and 4 December.  

No reira

E noho ora mai

Edward Ellison ONZM
Chairperson NZCA