Maps reveal where conservation land could be sold off after government reforms

The parts of the country where conservation land will become easier to sell off are revealed in new maps produced by a lobby group.

The proposed changes in the Government's Conservation Amendment Bill affect up to 60 percent of current conservation land. It would become possible for land in these areas to be exchanged or "disposed" by selling off, as long as it's not important for threatened species and it doesn't contain the best examples of wildlife or plants of its type in the area.

Forest & Bird, which has produced detailed maps of potentially impacted areas, says New Zealanders will be "furious" over the plans. But Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has said the bill recognises "conservation and economic development do not sit in opposition to one another all the time". Neither Potaka nor the Department of Conservation (DOC) commented on the maps yesterday, after they were shared with his office by RNZ.

What the Conservation Amendment Bill would do

The Conservation Amendment Bill, which includes the changes to allow easier sale of conservation land, passed its first reading at Parliament last month. Public submissions on the bill close on 2 July.

It aims to simplify the management of the conservation estate, allows for levies to be charged for access and gives the Conservation Minister more power to "exchange or dispose" of conservation land.

National parks, wilderness areas, ecological areas and sanctuary areas, nature reserves, scientific reserves, marine reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and two named scenic reserves (Kaikoura Island and Rakitu Island) are exempt from sale, but all other conservation land is eligible.

According to analysis by Forest & Bird, the conservation land that would become easier to sell off includes popular recreational areas such as the Tararuas, and Kaimanawaua Forest Park. It also appears to include areas of land that are part of Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO world heritage site.

The bill also proposes allowing more economic activity on the land unavailable for sale.

Forest & Bird's maps (displayed at the bottom of this page) show large swathes of the country marked as either 'enabling economic opportunities on public land' (in orange) or 'enabling economic opportunities and exchange and disposal on public conservation lands' (in red).

The group's chief advisor on conservation policy Richard Capie said the maps make clear for people what sometimes "impenetrable" proposed legislation can mask, and highlight the scale of what could be sold.

"I think New Zealanders will be furious and will let their voices be heard in no uncertain terms that they do not want that to happen."

Forest & Bird did not have a problem with examples of land with low conservation values Potaka has talked about, like the land Wellington's Metservice office is on, being sold or exchanged, but the bill allowed for far more than that.

"There is a threshold at which New Zealanders expect our favorite holiday spots, beaches, forests, incredible landscapes and local reserves to be looked after."

Land the public has fundraised for through the Natural Heritage Fund and gifted to the Crown could be sold, including beech forest in the Lewis Pass area, such as the Poplars Conservation Area and hill country tussock and grasslands on the east coast of the South Island including Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands.

Capie said some things in the bill made good sense and would modernise the conservation system, but it was opposed to several aspects.

It provided for more "amenity" areas, but didn't specify if that was a car park and toilet, or a hotel or gondola.

It also requires DOC to consider economic development in its decision making.

"A conservation department should be first and foremost about conservation," said Capie.

With approximately 4000 species threatened, New Zealand's biodiversity was being "smashed".

"We need to be doing more to protect them, not actually placing their habitats at greater risk."

Levies and land sales to fund DOC

The bill has been hailed by some, including tourism operators. The Tourism Industry Aotearoa said change was overdue and the bill makes tourism and conservation work better together.

Higher or additional charges for some international tourists to visit certain areas has been suggested. Potaka said this will raise $60 million for DOC annually.

The money from the sale of land is also pegged for DOC.

In his speech to Parliament introducing the bill, Potaka said it "recognises the need for sustainable funding for conservation".

"The reality is that maintaining world-class manuhiri experiences and protecting highly visited natural areas comes at a cost, and that cost should not be borne just by taxpayers.

"Infrastructure has got to be maintained. Tracks have to be upgraded. Biodiversity needs pūtea."

But the Deerstalkers Association worries the new revenue structure could create "perverse processes and outcomes" for DOC, where the cash-strapped department is conflicted by recommending land for sale while benefiting from the income.

National president Callum Sheridan said the organisation has many concerns about the bill.

"There's nothing that is a 'heck yeah' moment for us."

The organisation wants the ability to sell land removed from the bill. Sheridan worries easements that give access to backcountry areas may be sold off, affecting hunters as well as other recreational users.

"All of a sudden you could be turning up on a Sunday to do your local bush walk and you're unable to do it because of the access or because the land has been sold."

Once the land is sold, public access is lost, unless the new owners grant permission.

The organisation, which has 48 chapters and approximately 12,000 members, is planning on making a joint submission with other groups to lend weight to their opposition to the idea of selling or exchanging land.

Federated Mountain Club spokesperson Robin McNeill said the bill was a "shocker".

"My first thoughts were, crikey, did anyone read this before they put it through?"

McNeill is concerned the bill specifies that only the "best" examples of flora or fauna will exempt land from sale.

"Anything else is up for grabs."

He's also concerned the bill doesn't appear to give weight to current recreational use of land when considering it for sale.

McNeill suggested people should make a submission if they are concerned about the bill, as well as talk to their local MP.

Forest & Bird's maps

The maps below show areas Forest & Bird says are affected by the proposed law change. The maps were shared with Conservation Minister Tama Potaka for comment but his office had not responded late last night.