“The purpose of the conservation estate and the Department of Conservation is in its name: Conservation,” says FMC President Megan Dimozantos, responding to the government’s proposed changes to conservation law, including the introduction of access charges. “We don’t yet know enough detail behind these announcements to signal support or otherwise. We have significant concerns about the rhetoric of uninhibited economic growth on the conservation land— that could undermine conservation values, restrict public access, and see parts of our conservation estate up for land disposals.”
On Saturday, the government announced conservation reform proposals, building on a public consultation held by DOC earlier this year. FMC supports a streamlined legislative framework in principle, but strongly opposes removing the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) from the approval process for key planning documents. The NZCA is vital in ensuring decisions about public conservation land are transparent, robust, and reflect a broad range of perspectives. We do not support a system that concentrates decision-making solely in the hands of the Minister.
FMC is deeply concerned about proposals that could enable the disposal or development of public conservation land—including conservation parks and stewardship land—without adequate safeguards. With only 40% of the estate fully protected, vast areas such as Forest Parks and Conservation Parks could be opened up to inappropriate development. FMC supports efficient concession processes, but not at the expense of properly assessing impacts on conservation and recreation.
We welcome the government’s commitment that Kiwis won’t be charged to access their backyard—but questions remain about how access charging will work in practice. How visitors will be identified, compliance enforced, and whether revenue will exceed costs remain unclear. Freedom of access for Kiwis should be protected in legislation, and any revenue raised must be legally ringfenced for reinvestment in the places it comes from.
FMC submitted on both the modernisation and access charging proposals earlier this year and looks forward to engaging further. “While we support some elements in principle, we remain concerned about the broader direction signaled by this announcement,” says Dimozantos. “Public conservation law exists first and foremost to protect the land—not to serve as a platform for economic growth.”
Photo: Perth Valley, West Coast by Chad Cottle
