How conservation management strategies are developed
Phase by phase detail of how a conservation management strategy is created and approved.

Phase 1: Project planning

What happens during this phase

  • Begin project planning.
  • DOC, relevant Treaty partner and Conservation Board establish an agreed joint engagement approach to the CMS development or review.
  • Minister of Conservation is made aware that the process has started, and their views are sought.
  • Finalise project and communications plans.

Who is involved

  • DOC Director-General delegate and project staff
  • Conservation Board
  • Treaty partner
  • New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA)

Phase 2: Drafting the strategy

What happens during this phase

  • DOC project staff, Conservation Board and Treaty partner prepare the draft strategy.
  • DOC and external project hui and workshops to understand issues, opportunities and outcomes for the draft strategy.
  • Consult with key stakeholders.
  • Confirm key policy approaches and milestones.
  • Carry out internal DOC peer review of the draft strategy checking for national issues, legal issues, consistency with legislation and Conservation General Policy.
  • Minister of Conservation is informed of policy direction and themes in the draft before notification.

Refer to the Conservation Act 1987

  • Section 17F(a) – draft shall be prepared by the Director-General in consultation with the Conservation Boards affected by it and such other persons or organisations, as the Director-General considers practicable and appropriate.

Who is involved

  • DOC Director-General delegate and project staff
  • Conservation Board
  • Treaty partner
  • Key stakeholders

Phase 3: Public notification and hearing

What happens during this phase

  • Publicly notify the draft strategy in newspapers and online for no less than 40 working days and invite feedback.
  • Notify Treaty partner and appropriate stakeholders, including regional councils and territorial authorities.
  • Establish a hearing panel comprising DOC, Conservation Board and relevant Treaty partner.
  • Collate submissions on the draft strategy.
  • Organise hearing venues and arrange hearing times with submitters who wish to be heard.
  • Hold the submission hearings.
  • Prepare the summary of submissions.
  • Minister of Conservation is informed of submissions received and issues raised in submissions.

Refer to the Conservation Act 1987

  • Section 49(1)… the Minister shall publish a notice… in some newspaper circulating in the area...
  • Section 17F(a) to (h)

Who is involved

  • DOC Director-General delegate and project staff
  • Conservation Board
  • Treaty partner
  • Key stakeholders
  • General public
  • Hearing panel

Phase 4: Revision and approval

What happens during this phase

  • DOC considers submissions and public opinion, revises the draft and sends it to the Conservation Board. The Director-General must revise the draft Strategy and provide it to the Conservation Board within 8 months of the date of publication of the notice.
  • Minister of Conservation is informed of key changes to draft before it is sent to the Conservation Board.
  • DOC supports the Conservation Board in its consultation obligations.
  • The Conservation Board considers the revised draft strategy and sends it to the NZCA for approval. The Conservation Board must consider the draft Strategy and provide it to the NZCA within 6 months of the date of receipt of the draft Strategy from DOC.
  • Minister of Conservation is informed of key changes to the draft before it is sent to the NZCA.
  • The NZCA considers the revised draft strategy and undertakes any consultation that may be required as a result of Treaty settlement or may seek further consultation.
  • The NZCA makes amendments and sends the draft strategy to the Minister of Conservation for comment.
  • The Minister considers the draft strategy and sends it back to the NZCA with any written recommendations.
  • The NZCA considers the Minister’s recommendations and either approves the draft or sends it back to the Minister for further consideration, before it approves the draft.

Refer to the Conservation Act 1987

  • Section 17F(i) to (p)

Who is involved

  • DOC Director-General delegate and project staff
  • Conservation Board
  • NZ Conservation Authority
  • Minister of Conservation
  • Treaty partner
  • Key stakeholders

Phase 5: Implementing the strategy

What happens during this phase

  • Treaty partner and key stakeholders notified of the decision and the operative date of the strategy.
  • Publish and notify the approved strategy.
  • Minister of Conservation is informed that the strategy has been approved.
  • Begin implementing the CMS – brief and upskill DOC staff, the Conservation Board and key stakeholders.
  • Debrief the CMS process.

Refer to the Conservation Act 1987

Section 17N(4) to (6) – availability and notification of approved CMS

Who is involved

  • DOC Director-General delegate and project staff
  • Conservation Board
  • Treaty partner

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Download the detailed breakdown of each CMS development phase (PDF, 339K)