Government policy decisions
On 2 August 2025, the Government announced that it will make changes to conservation legislation. Drafting of the Conservation Acts (Land Management) Amendment Bill is underway.
The Bill is intended to be introduced to Parliament at the end of the year. Following introduction and first reading, a Select Committee process will take place and provide an opportunity for public input on the Bill.
Unleashing growth on conservation land: Media release 2 August 2025
About this consultation
Te Papa Atawhai the Department of Conservation (DOC) is the lead government agency for the conservation system and manages roughly a third of New Zealand’s land mass. On behalf of all New Zealanders DOC protects iconic landscapes, nature and heritage. The Government faces a number of challenges in funding and managing these places:
- the current charging system is unfair and complicated
- costs are rising across the conservation system
- international visitor numbers are increasing, putting pressure on public conservation land.
Currently, many visitors do not contribute towards public conservation land they visit. Overseas, access charges are a commonly used to fund conservation work. Legislation does not allow the Government to charge for access in New Zealand.
The Government has decided to charge visitors a fair price to access some public conservation land, where it makes sense to do so. Charging for access would support a fairer charging system by allowing Government to charge for short walks and day hikes.
This work is part of the Government’s Revenue Action Plan for Conservation.
Discussion document
Discussion document (PDF, 2,272K)
This discussion document sought feedback on whether access charges for some public conservation land should be introduced, including:
- who should pay
- where access charges could be used
- how the funding could be invested.
Summary of submissions
Summary of submissions (PDF, 2,105K)
Over 7,400 submissions were received from the public. Key themes from consultation have been collated and summarised in a summary of submissions.Submissions opened on 15 November 2024 and closed at 5 pm 28 February 2025.
Supporting Cabinet papers and advice
You can find the Minister of Conservation’s Cabinet papers and related advice supporting this proposal below. Some information has been withheld consistent with the Official Information Act 1982.
- Exploring charging for access to some public conservation land: Approval to consult - Cabinet paper and Cabinet committee minute (PDF, 1,130K)
- Growing third-party revenue for conservation - Cabinet paper, Cabinet committee minute and associated advice (PDF, 4,353K)
- Conservation priorities - Cabinet paper and Cabinet committee minute (PDF, 1,781K)
- Financial sustainability review international comparison (Allen & Clarke) (PDF, 23,571K)
- Exploring charging for access to some public conservation land: Policy decisions - Cabinet paper, Cabinet committee minute and associated advice (PDF, 6,363K)
Contact
Direct any questions regarding this work programme to accesschargingconsultation@doc.govt.nz