The Minister of Conservation has received two concession applications which are hereby notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987.
Applications details
- Pou Tangata Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Community Development Trust (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki) wants to lease approximately 7.5 hectares of land where the camp is located on Motutapu Island Recreation Reserve. (Concession reference 103662-INS)
- Motutapu Outdoor Education Trust (MOET) wants permission to use and manage the buildings and infrastructure on the site, including historic WWII barracks and adventure facilities/structures. (Concession reference 103661-INS)
Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and MOET have a memorandum of understanding and will also sign a sublease agreement where MOET will run the camp on land leased by Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. These reflect Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki as mana whenua (local iwi with ancestral ties to the land), and as recognised in the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Claims Settlement Act 2018. MOET will be responsible for health and safety and day-to-day maintenance at the camp.
The applicants intend for these applications to:
- support Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki in caring for Motutapu Island
- allow MOET to continue running the camp, which serves around 8,000 young people annually and has done so for more than 20 years
- promotes outdoor education, environmental learning, and life skills
- preserves historic buildings for educational use.
Public Access
The public will continue to be able to use the Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp Access Track, which runs from Administration Bay to Islington Bay and through the campgrounds.
Application documents
- Concession Application Form 3a – Tenanting or using existing DOC structure/facility – 103661-INS (PDF, 257K)
- Application Information Form 1a Notified or Non-notified Process – 103662-INS (PDF, 415K)
- Topographic Survey of Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp (PDF, 3,157K)
- Letter from Motutapu Outdoor Education Trust to the Department of Conservation and Operations Director 17 December 2022 (PDF, 254K)
- Letter from Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki to the Department of Conservation Tāmaki Makaurau Operations Manager (PDF, 406K)
- Statement from Motutapu Outdoor Education Camo Trust on the strategic partnership between Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Motutapu Outdoor Education Trust and the two concession application approach (DOCX, 446K)
- MOEC Emergency Plan (PDF, 314K)
- International Adventure Tourism Certified Document Review ISO 21101 - Adventure Tourism - 2025 - 2028 (PDF, 246K)
- Motutapu Island water monitoring report and desktop review – compliance monitoring – Auckland Council (PDF, 93K)
- Wastewater discharge consent (PDF, 270K)
- Specified Limits Permit Maritime New Zealand (PDF, 510K)
- Outdoors Mark Premium Safety Audit Certificate (sailing, archery, orienteering, confidence course, survivor challenge, low ropes, flying fox, duckpond) 2022-2025 (PDF, 207K)
- Qualworx Adventure Activity Safety Certificate (abseiling and climbing, high ropes course, kayaking open water, Stand Up Paddleboarding open water, snorkelling) 2025-2028 (PDF, 246K)
- Qualworx Premium Safety Audit Certificate (bouldering, bird and bush walk, historic walk, raft building, sailing, archeryAdventure Activity Operator Registration 2025-2028 (PDF, 103K)
- MOEC Emergency Plan (PDF, 314K)
- Safety Management System Audit Certificate 2025-2028 (PDF, 206K)
- Fire Security Services Building Warrant of Fitness certificate for MOEC - 2025-2026 (PDF, 893K)
- Pest Free Certificate MOEC (PDF, 86K)
- HazTec HSWA Diesel Stationary Container System Certification (PDF, 696K)
- HazTec LPG Storage Location Compliance Certificate (PDF, 237K)
What happens next
After submissions close:
- The Department of Conservation (DOC) will review all submissions.
- If anyone asks to speak, a hearing may be held. You will be contacted beforehand if you wish to speak.
- DOC will consider all feedback and make a recommendation.
- A final decision will be made by the Minister of Conservation’s representative.
Hearing details
If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur online, on the week starting 1 December 2025.
Decision
This public notice does not mean the concession will be approved. No decision has been made yet. When a decision is made, the outcome will be published here.
Contact
If you have any questions about the application or the submission process, contact Chris Williams, Senior Permissions Advisor via email: askpermissions@doc.govt.nz