Stewardship Land
In 2014 FMC launched a “Forgotten Lands” campaign in response to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report about the future of stewardship land (Investigating the future of conservation: the case of Stewardship land). The purpose of the campaign was to improve the protection of stewardship land so that it corresponds to its natural and recreational values.
What and where is stewardship land?
If you hiked in Remarkables area in Otago or have visited Waitaha river on the West Coast, you might have thought you were moving through the National Parks, but you were actually visiting stewardship land. How come?
When the Department of Conservation was established in 1987, more than 10% of New Zealand land was placed into the temporary classification of stewardship land. These parcels of land are now typically known as Conservation Areas; many other parcels of land with high conservation values have been added to them since, through Nature Heritage Fund and tenure review purchases. Even though they hold high conservation value, these areas lack the level of protection and active management afforded to other areas, with identical values, managed under the conservation law (Conservation Act 1987, Reserves Act 1977 or the National Parks Act 1980).
National Park on the left, stewardship land on the right side of the river. East Matukituki valley. Photo: Sierra Alef-Defoe
This leaves stewardship land vulnerable to economic use. In some cases concessions for activities such as hydro development or mining are much easier to gain on such land. In the past years, developers have used ‘land swaps’—trading conservation land for private land if a net benefit is perceived. Notable examples include swapping land, purchased by Nature Heritage Fund on the Craigieburn Range, for bush on Banks Peninsula and a proposed exchange near Seddonville to enable a hydroelectric dam.
To better understand the location and extent of stewardship land, FMC created a Stewardship Land map. Take a tour of the estate and see for yourself:
What is the issue and what FMC has done about it?
As the future of stewardship land became a prominent issue, FMC joined a broad spectrum of voices in stressing that these areas were not low value—they had simply not been assessed—and that prioritizing their assessment and reclassification was essential.
FMC’s first major Stewardship Land campaign step called for eight outstanding natural areas to be formally incorporated into Conservation, Recreation Areas, or National Parks: Whangapoua and Tairua Forests, Waitotara Forest, St James conservation Area, Livingstone Range and Mavora Lakes, Remarkables, Rangataua Forest/Ruapehu and Lower Landsborough to Lake Moeraki.
Progress was made in 2015, when DOC identified three large areas and fifteen smaller areas to progress based on conservation values and other factors. The three large areas, all included in our campaign, are the St James, Mokihinui and the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, together comprising almost ⅓ of New Zealand’s stewardship land. While the addition of 64,000 hectares of the Mokihinui catchment to Kahurangi National Park was a great success, no progress has been made so far on reclassification of St James Area.
The most notable impact of FMC’s campaign, alongside the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, has been shifting public understanding of stewardship land. It is now widely recognized that stewardship land is not ‘low value’ conservation land, and development proposals affecting high-value areas will face public opposition. Thus we decided to rename our campaign into the Stewardship Land campaign.
Remarkables National Park and Wild Rivers park
As a part of the Stewardship Land campaign, FMC developed targeted campaigns to ensure stewardship areas at risk, or of high conservation value, are reclassified as a priority. In 2020, two campaigns stem from this endeavour: Remarkables National Park campaign and Wild Rivers park campaing, calling for the southern part of the West Coast of the South Island to be formed into a Wild Rivers park.
Remarkables area
The need for stronger protection of these two areas was not new; rather, it built on a deep heritage dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. The proposed status—whether as a national park, national reserve, or scenic reserve—was rooted in Sir Alan Mark’s work in the 1970s and Bruce Mason’s publications for FMC in the 1980s. Similarly, the Wild Rivers park campaign stemmed from FMC’s long-standing advocacy, alongside others, for wild and scenic river protection during the same period.
The Remarkables National Park campaign started as a response to DOC’s public consultation on the Area’s reclassification in December 2020. FMC sees this area as valuable as other National Parks and has been advocating ever since for the Area to become a Remarkables National Park. Check out the work we have done so far on this.
Waitaha river, one of 16 river systems forming the proposed Wild Rivers park. Photo: Neil Silverwood.
The same year FMC launched Wild Rivers park campaign, advocating for a creation of a refuge of unmodified rivers in the south part of the West Coast of the South Island. The proposed Wild Rivers park would stretch across 16 river systems and their catchments, encompassing 5,000 square kilometres of native habitat, 75 named glaciers and a portion of Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand UNESCO World Heritage area, offering numerous and varied recreational opportunities.
Introduction of a two step reclassification
Since the start of the stewardship land issue there has been much discussion within DOC and Conservation Boards about the best way of prioritising reclassification.
To progress and streamline the reclassification of stewardship land, the Government in 2021 announced a two step process, beginning with establishment of two national expert panels to assess the land and recommend classifications to the Minister of Conservation. The second step was to propose Conservation Act changes to streamline reclassification. Both steps are outlined in the Stewardship land in Aotearoa New Zealand discussion document. FMC wrote a detailed submission. However, both parts of the process have been on hold.
Where to from here
The present Minister for Conservation Tama Potaka indicated he will restart the reclassification process. We expect this to start happening early this year.
In general, FMC is concerned about the current government’s inclination to see stewardship land as a land of low conservation value and as an economic resource. There are certain development projects included in the Fast Track Approvals schedule, that are located on stewardship land with extraordinary recreational opportunities and high natural values – for example expansion of Remarkables Ski field to the Doolans Area and hydro scheme on Waitaha River, a jewel of a wild river in the heart of the South Westland.
Due to growing pressure on the stewardship land and poor understanding of its values, especially by decision-makers, FMC is committed to extend our advocacy and strengthen the campaign. We will ensure that the proper reclassification is enshrined in Conservation Management Strategies or any new such plans and that land thoroughly assessed through tenure review is given a proper classification as that process is completed. We will continue to advocate to protect any stewardship land, that is under immediate threat: places like the Waitaha, the Remarkables and Whangapoua Forest.
What can you do?
Here are some ideas on how you can help:
- use our map to help you plan your trips and be aware when you are recreating on stewardship land,
- make a planned visit to a hut located on stewardship land,
- visit your local stewardship land regularly and take your friends and whānau with you,
- support and tell your friends about our Remarkables National Park and Wild Rivers park campaigns,
- tag FMC @federatedmountainclubs when posting about your adventures on stewardship land online,
- send us your stories about trips on stewardship land,
- actively participate in consultation with DOC and government when it comes to stewardship land – you can write a submission, sign a petition etc.
- support FMC and other organisations that share the same values – you can join us and become our supporter or donate to help us protect the land,
- read stories and background information about stewardship land on our Wilderlife blog.