Forgotten Lands

In 2014 FMC launched a “Forgotten Lands” campaign in response to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report “Investigating the future of conservation: the case of Stewardship land. The campaign was designed to amplify the issue, change peoples perception of this land classification and push for eventual reclassification of areas of stewardship land, particularly those with high natural and recreational values.

When the Department of Conservation was established in 1987, more than 10% of New Zealand, much of it with high conservation value, was placed into the temporary classification of stewardship land, parcels of land now typically known as Conservation Areas, which lack the level of protection and active management afforded to other areas managed under the Conservation Act 1987 or the National Parks Act 1980.  Stewardship land is vulnerable to prospective developers particularly through the mechanism of “land swaps”, where conservation areas are traded for private land if a net benefit is perceived, a vulnerability that gained notoriety through the swapping of nature heritage fund purchased land on the Craigeburn range with bush on Banks Peninsula and a proposed swap of forest land near Seddonville to enable the construction of a hydroelectric dam.

FMC joined a broad spectrum of voices emphasising that these areas were not low value, they had simply not been assessed, and that their assessment and reclassification should be a priority. With the introduction of FMC’s stewardship map, you can take a tour around the stewardship estate and see for yourself:

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First proposals

FMC’s first big Forgotten Lands campaign proposals were for formal incorporation of eight outstanding natural areas into conservation parks, recreation parks, or national parks:

Where we are at now (March 2022)

The biggest success of the Forgotten Lands campaign and the complementary endeavours of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has been the change in the public’s understanding on the status of stewardship land. It is now widely understood that stewardship land is not “low value” conservation land. While a few development proposals, such as the hydroelectric scheme on the Waitaha, are attempting to premeditate a thorough assessment of the land, at a landscape scale for conservation purposes, there is an awareness that such processes will be subject to public opposition.

There has been much discussion within DOC and on Conservation Boards about the best way of prioritising reclassification. Many  North Island stewardship lands are still subject to Treaty of Waitangi Claims and can’t be progressed at this time. In 2015 DOC identified three large areas and fifteen smaller areas to progress based on conservation values, compliance with existing statutory planning, avoidance on conflict with mining interests and economies of scale. The three large areas are the St James, Mokihinui and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, which were all within FMC’s Forgotten Lands Campaign and together comprise close to 700,000 hectares, or 27.5% of New Zealand’s stewardship land. By far the biggest success to-date has been the addition of 64,000 hectares of the Mokihinui catchment to Kahurangi National Park.

In December 2020, DOC announced the first of two rounds of public consultation on the Kawarau/Remarkables Conservation Area’s reclassification. FMC sees the reclassification of this area as a crucial step in the creation of a Remarkables National Park. We have therefore written a comprehensive submission on the reclassification of the Kawarau/Remarkables Conservation Area. Read more on this here.

In 2021, 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.

FMC is concerned that an ‘expedited process’ will be done superficially and frivolously. We have thus asked DOC to pause the work until significant issues, such as treatment of conflict of interest and DOC’s interpretation of ‘significance’, are sorted out. While we have long campaigned for reclassification, the work must be done right. Read more on this here.

Where to from here

FMC expects this to be a long campaign, we know from decades long commitments to National Parks, Wilderness Areas, Conservation Parks and Tenure Review processes, that the statutory wheels turn slowly. It is though encouraging to see concrete action already taking place. FMC will continue to put our shoulder to the wheel of all the processes, including the promotion of the Remarkables National Park.

At a general level FMC will continue to celebrate the conservation and recreation values of stewardship lands, ensure that the expectation of reclassification is enshrined in Conservation Management Strategies and that land thoroughly assessed through tenure review is given a proper classification as that process is completed. We also continue to advocate to protect threatened stewardship land. Places like: the Waitaha, Griffin Creek and Whangapoua Forest

At a specific level FMC is considering targeted campaigns to ensure stewardship areas at risk, or of high conservation value, are reclassified as a priority. One of these campaigns, launched in 2020, is for a Wild Rivers park on the West Coast of the South Island. Our vision is for a refuge of unmodified rivers with just one hydroelectric scheme in place. The proposed Wild Rivers park would encompass:

  • More than 5,000 square kilometres of native habitat for threatened species such as kea, whio (blue duck), mohua (yellowhead) and pekepeka (long-tailed bats) – to name just a few.
  • Sixteen significant river systems with approximately 3,330 kilometres of waterway, including creeks and tributaries, in their catchments – important habitat for freshwater invertebrates and native fish like whitebait and tuna (eels).
  • Seventy five named glaciers and over 120 peaks above 2,000m of elevation
  • A portion of the Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand UNESCO World Heritage area.
  • 517 kilometres of formed tramping tracks and 84 DOC huts, classic multi-day journeys off the beaten track, 18 iconic whitewater river runs, a number of committing, high-volume canyoning trips in stunning locations, and other recreational opportunities, such as multi-day ski touring, mountaineering, and pack-rafting.

What you can do?

Understand the stewardship lands problem and explain it to others. Cherish your connection with your local stewardship lands and visit them regularly with your friends and family. Submit to statutory processes affecting stewardship lands. Support FMC and organisations that share our values.