FMC has written a submission on proposed law changes relating to how stewardship land is reclassified.

Stewardship land – or ‘Conservation Areas’ under the Conservation Act 1987 – is managed by the Department of Conservation. Most of this land has been awaiting assessment of its values and specific classification (such as national park or scenic reserve) since DOC was formed in 1987. Around 30% of all public conservation land is stewardship land; this is approximately 2,508,000 ha, or 9% of New Zealand.

Last year, the Government announced two steps to accelerate stewardship reclassification, beginning with the establishment of two national expert panels to assess the land and recommend classifications to the Minister of Conservation. The second step is reviewing the proposed law changes, which aim to streamline reclassification. Both steps are outlined in the Stewardship land in Aotearoa New Zealand discussion document.

FMC has written a detailed submission on this document, with the following key recommendations:

  • Expeditiousness should not drive reclassification.
  • Panel makeup and scope, and any extra functions and powers should be included in the statute. All panel meetings should be minuted and published; this should include records of conflicts of interest, presentations, and supporting information.
  • Forty working days should be given to all New Zealanders for public submissions for all reclassifications except where the scale of a reclassification warrants a longer public submissions period.
  • Responsibility for running public notifications and submissions should remain with DOC. Responsibility for reclassifying stewardship land as national parks should remain with the New Zealand Conservation Authority.
  • Requirement to declare s62 stewardship land to be held for conservation purposes under s7 of the Conservation Act 1987 should not be removed.
  • Stewardship land disposal proceeds should be directed to the Nature Heritage Fund and/or be used to purchase additional land for the public conservation estate to enhance its conservation values.
  • Concessions relating to reclassified stewardship land should be wound up or amended as appropriate where they are incompatible with new classifications, with time frames attached. Crown Minerals Act 1991 access arrangements relating to reclassified stewardship land should be addressed, and the Government should inform the public about its approach to the issue.

Federated Mountain Clubs wishes to see stewardship land reclassified, but the task must be undergone with the conservation legislation’s kaupapa front and centre at every step.

Expeditiousness is a poor friend to robust processes. With stakes as high as they are in the process of determining stewardship land’s future, clear focus on principle and faultless due diligence is essential – not only for their own sakes, but to insure against own goals of wrong outcomes and legal challenge.

For more info on this submission, please contact FMC President Jan Finlayson at jan.finlayson@fmc.org.nz.

Photo at top: Griffin Creek (c) Ben Sarten