E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangarangatanga, Tēnā koutou, Tēnā koutou, Tēnā tātou katoa

Korihi te manu

Tākiri mai i te ata

Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea

Tihei mauri ora!

The bird sings

The morning has dawned

The day has broken

Behold there is life!

In December last year the Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan announced

the conservation law reform roadmap. The roadmap outlines both the short-term and long-term changes we’re making to improve conservation legislation for nature and people. You can find out more about the reform programme on our website.

As part of our law reform work, we are initiating a review of the Wildlife Act and proposing targeted amendments to concessions and management planning legislation (CMAP).

We know whānau, hapū and iwi have a significant interest in the management of public conservation lands and waters, and the wildlife that live in your rohe. Over many years, we have heard your frustrations and aspirations for how we manage species and use of cultural materials, and also with our systems such as concessions and management planning processes.

Conservation law reform is an opportunity to build on these conversations and design species legislation and systems that are modern and fit for purpose. Your engagement will help ensure any future changes made to conservation legislation reflect what’s important to your hapū or iwi and give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

We want to understand your potential interest or desired involvement in this work. We will be holding a series of hui to discuss both the review of legislation for species management (the Wildlife Act) and conservation management processes (CMAP).

Due to Covid we intend to initially run regional virtual hui in May and June. If you would prefer to meet kanohi ki te kanohi we will organise an in-person hui where it is safe to do so.

We are looking to schedule online hui for your region the week of 30 May – 3 June. If you would like more information about the regional hui or would prefer to engage with us individually, in an alternative way, or at another time, please email lawreform@doc.govt.nz and we will be in touch.

Mauri Ora!

Penny Nelson

Director-General

Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation

Conservation Law Reform | Whakahōu Ture Pūnaha Atawhai

Policy and Visitors Group

Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai

Conservation House Wellington | Whare Kaupapa Atawhai

18 - 32 Manners St | PO Box 10 420, Wellington