The Government’s Conservation Amendment Bill proposes a new economic development function for the Department of Conservation which would impact all conservation land. The Bill would also make it much easier to sell off conservation land, with up to 60% of public conservation land potentially available for exchange or disposal.

“These maps show the scale of what’s at stake,” says Richard Capie, Forest & Bird’s Group Manager for Conservation Advocacy and Policy.

“We wanted to be very clear, because it seems almost unbelievable. Your local reserve, your favourite holiday spot, beaches, forests, and iconic landscapes – they could be at risk of being sold.”

Forest & Bird’s maps show conservation land at risk of economic development in orange and areas at risk of both economic development and exchange or disposal in red.

Under current legislation it is only possible to sell some categories of conservation land if it has no, or very low, conservation value. The Bill would widen that and make the test much weaker, essentially only requiring Ministers keep land that is important to threatened species or ecosystems, or if the habitat is one of the best examples of its type in that ecological region. Foreshore, and some land subject to Treaty claims and settlements, would also still be protected from sale. 

A few of the numerous areas at risk of sale or exchange could include parts of the following areas, if they are not considered to be “important for the conservation of threatened species or threatened ecosystems, or both” or if they are not considered to be “the best, or one of the best” examples of ecosystem-type in an ecological district: 

• Upper North Island: Aotea Conservation Park on Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Forest Park, Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve.
• Lower North Island: Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, Kaimanawa Forest Park, Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve, Tararua Forest Park.
• Upper South Island: Mt Richmond Forest Park, Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Conservation Park – Seaward Kaikōura ranges, Takaka Hill Scenic Reserve.
• Lower South Island: Victoria Forest Park, Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve, Conservation Area Wanganui / Otira Catchments, Remarkables Conservation Area, Catlins Conservation Park.

“Allowing even parts of these places to be sold or exchanged is a major shift," says Mr Capie. "The Bill isn’t just about modernisation, it’s also opening the door to privatisation.  

“New Zealanders take pride in protecting public conservation land, these are the mountains, wild rivers, and forests we value and explore.

“In a climate and biodiversity crisis, with our special habitats and unique wildlife under pressure, we should be strengthening protections and ensuring conservation land is safeguarded for future generations.”