Latest meeting updates from the Chair

New Zealand Conservation Authority meetings February and April 2025

The Authority held both its February and April meetings in Wellington. This communique covers both meetings, as we had overlooked completing one after the February meeting, for which we apologise.

February NZCA Meeting

Minister of Conservation session

This session took place at Parliament with Hon. Tama Potaka, Minster of Conservation. I discussed the Authority’s position on the Modernising Conservation Land Management discussion document; we are focused on protecting the role of the Authority and Conservation Boards in the management process. The Authority support making efficiencies within the system and support a single national conservation policy. However, it would need to be flexible enough to take into account the different complexities around the country.

Regarding charging for access to PCL, the Authority are supportive of charging international visitors, but do not support charging New Zealanders.

Director General session

Penny Nelson (Director-General, DOC) gave an update about work in the Department, and across the central government sector. Since her last update to the Authority, the Department’s annual review with the Environment Select Committee took place, and there is another scheduled for the Minister in March.

Deputy Directors-General session 

Tame Malcolm (DD-G Treaty Partnerships, DOC) and Sam Thomas (Director Policy, DOC) were present for this session.
Tame provided an update to the Authority on the work of the Treaty Relationship Group over the last while. The team have been consulting with Treaty partners at place on the Modernising conservation land management, and Access charging discussion documents. The consultation has been well received by Treaty partners, with over 20 hui held, and the team have received positive feedback on their engagement.
With regards to statutory iwi positions on conservation boards arising from Treaty settlements, this matter was mentioned by some iwi during the consultation. The Authority raised their concerns with Tame that by changing the function of conservation boards, the Crown is not upholding their end of the Treaty settlements which include dedicated iwi seats on specific conservation boards. The Authority also queried in the case of those iwi who have not yet made settlements and how their interests will be provided for. Tame advised that there is a team working on this.

Fast-track Approvals Act

The Authority had a session on the Fast-track Approvals Act as we have a formal role for some types of approvals under the Act. The Authority agreed to establish a fast-track committee (FTC), with Sally, Shad, Wendy, Puna and Mick as members. The FTC will be available to meet with applicants under the Act, as well as community groups and NGOs.  

NZCA’s section 4 obligations

During the Authority’s session with the Minister, the Minister confirmed that there are recommendations from the ODG report that could be implemented by the Department now. The Authority agreed to write to the Minister detailing actions that the Department could be taking. Members discussed the conservation approach that to date has not worked for Māori, nor for conservation.

April NZCA Meeting

The April meeting was technically an out-of-town meeting, but was held in Wellington as an opportunity to meet with the Wellington Conservation Board. The meeting was preceded by a field trip to Matiu / Somes Island. This field trip gave the Authority the opportunity to engage with local DOC staff and hear about their engagement with mana whenua and other local stakeholders.

On behalf of the Authority, I would like to extend our thanks to Rachael Mora (Statutory Manager) and Angus Hulme Moir (Operations Manager) and his staff on Matiu / Somes island for their hospitality and insights.

I would also like to thank the Wellington Conservation Board members for hosting us and attending the field trip and dinner with us on 9 April.

Field Trip Overview

The Authority’s field trip on Wednesday 9 April began at Queens Warf, catching the East by West ferry across to Matiu / Somes Island. The Authority and the Wellington Conservation Board members were welcomed to the Island by DOC rangers and went to the DOC Staff cottage to meet and discuss issues with Angus Hulme Moir (Operations Manager) in the Wellington Region. Angus discussed the partnerships in managing the island, between DOC and Port Nicolson Block Trust for example. He also discussed looking to the future and how the Department could manage the handing of the island into the custodial care of mana whenua. This raised the need for DOC to have good exit strategies when land is handed back as the result of a Treaty settlement, so as not to burden mana whenua with the cost of maintaining infrastructure that was left behind by DOC or other crown entities.

The Authority and the Wellington Conservation Board toured the Island, including some of the structures from the former quarantine station (first humans and later imported stock) that are no longer in use. Angus discussed keeping these building maintained by the Department so mana whenua can reuse these structures if they choose to do so in the future, especially given the challenges building new structures on the island.  

Director General session

Penny Nelson (Director-General, DOC) provided the Authority with an overview of both the Minister’s priorities and the Department’s work. The Minister’s current top priority for the Department is to clear the permissions backlog. Regarding the Conservation law reform, the Minister is aiming to make changes to legislation by the end of this year.

The Authority raised the issue of resourcing for Conservation boards, both with regards to adequate staffing, as well as the inability for boards to cost recover with regards to fast-track applications.

Herds of Special Interest

Ben Reddiex and his team gave a presentation on Herds of Special Interest (HOSI). The Department is working through the process to declare a HOSI for North Island Sika deer. There will be key statutory roles for the Authority in this work; the Authority agreed to establish a HOSI Committee to deal with this.

World Heritage Tentative List

Sarah Bagnall, (Senior International Advisor, DOC) and Katrina Edwards (Project and Governance advisor, DOC) presented to the Authority on the proposal to review New Zealand’s World Heritage Tentative List. The existing tentative list is from 2007 and consists of eight sites. Of those sites, some may not be feasible, still meet criteria, or have iwi support. It will take eighteen months for the review of this list to be undertaken. There is also work under way reaching out to iwi who have the current World Heritage sites in their rohe to see the impact or experience they’ve had with these. Iwi can submit expressions of interest for World Heritage sites should they so desire, DOC are able to provide support to iwi in these instances.

The next Authority meeting will be held in Wellington on 11 and 12 June.  

No reira

E noho ora mai

Edward Ellison ONZM
Chairperson NZCA