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Te Hiku Conservation Management Strategy

Introduction

Find out about the development of the Te Hiku o Te Ika-a-Māui Conservation Management Strategy (CMS).

Process to date

Submissions on the draft CMS closed on 11 October 2024. The 42 submissions received reflect the diverse perspectives of the community. Hearings were held on 26-27 November 2024.

Representatives from the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) and Te Hiku iwi reviewed the draft CMS in light of the submissions and identified changes to be made. The draft CMS was formally handed over to Te Hiku Conservation Board (Board) to review in April for their consideration. The Board will be referring the draft CMS to the New Zealand Conservation Authority in June 2025 for their consideration and approval.

Overview

DOC and Te Hiku iwi are developing a conservation management strategy for an area defined in Treaty settlements as Te Korowai.

Te Korowai area extends from the Hokianga Harbour and mid-point of Rangaunu Harbour northwards to Te Rerenga Wairua/Cape Reinga and includes Manawatāwhi (Three Kings Islands).

The CMS will outline a new pathway for sustainably managing public lands, waters, and the species within them over the next ten years.  It has been shaped by:

  • Treaty settlements that took effect from 2015
  • changes to community expectations and recreation patterns
  • changes to government policy and legislation.

The draft CMS, on which submission were invited in early August 2024 included ideas that came from:

  • representatives of Te Hiku iwi - Te Aupōuri, NgāiTakoto and Te Rarawa
  • DOC staff
  • Treaty settlements, iwi and hapū environmental plans, DOC resource material
  • the Te Hiku Conservation Board
  • stakeholder groups.

Once the Te Hiku CMS is finalised, it will replace the Northland CMS for the Te Hiku region.

View the draft CMS

The draft is made up of three volumes.

A factsheet is available for a brief overview of the CMS process and content.

Draft Te Hiku o Te Ika-a-Māui CMS factsheet (PDF, 784K

Feedback on the draft CMS

We received 42 submissions on the draft which reflect the diverse perspectives of the community.

Hearings

Hearings for submitters who wished to be heard were held on 26-27 November 2024 by a panel of representatives from:

    • Te Aupōuri
    • NgāiTakoto
    • Te Rarawa
    • Te Hiku o Te Ika Conservation Board
    • DOC.

Next steps

  • To be confirmed – NZ Conservation Authority considers revised draft and consults with Te Hiku iwi, the Board, DOC and the Minister before approving CMS.
  • To be confirmed – CMS becomes operative and guides decisions on how Te Korowai lands and waters are managed. It is used to assess concession applications.

Contact

If you have a question about the CMS contact us at tehikuCMS@doc.govt.nz.