The government is calling for public submissions on its Conservation Amendment Bill.
The bill, which was introduced on May 7, proposes several amendments to the Conservation Act 1987 aimed at increasing economic growth.
The government said these changes would streamline the management of land, better enable appropriate use of conservation land, and support more effective administration of conservation land.
“The Conservation Act is nearly 40 years old, and outdated rules and slow processes have created unnecessary cost and delay,” Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said.
“These changes mean less red tape, faster approvals, and more investment into biodiversity, tracks, huts, and visitor infrastructure.”
The Minister’s press release focused on tourism and other activities, saying the reforms will make it easier to get concessions for activities on conservation land and enable the enactment of international visitor access charges at some sites.
However, opponents of the bill said the amendments will also make it much easier to sell off conservation land, and questioned the inclusion of a section which “recognise[s] the economic opportunities that arise from the use and development of land… to enable this use and development to the greatest extent practicable”.
Conservation organisation Forest and Bird said the bill could potentially make up to 60 per cent of public conservation land in New Zealand eligible for exchange or disposal, including parts of Coromandel Forest Park and Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve.
“It seems almost unbelievable. Your local reserve, your favourite holiday spot, beaches, forests, and iconic landscapes – they could be at risk of being sold,” group manager for conservation advocacy and policy Richard Capie said.
“Allowing even parts of these places to be sold or exchanged is a major shift… The bill isn’t just about modernisation, it’s also opening the door to privatisation.”
Coromandel Watchdog chair Catherine Delahunty said the amendments could be worse for the region than the Fast Track legislation.
“The sale of parts of a state asset to facilitate more development like mining in areas set aside for protection is one of the most disgraceful abuses of the country the Coalition has initiated and that’s a high bar,” she said.
“They have misread what many people value, and they should expect robust opposition from far and wide, and especially from Hauraki/Coromandel and its many friends.”
DETAILS: Public submissions close on July 2. Visit www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission to have your say.
Public meeting, June 25, 5pm, at Thames Community Centre, 609 Mackay St.
