Submission on the Conservation Amendment Bill

Overview of general comments

We have submitted our formal response to the Conservation Amendment Bill, a piece of legislation with significant implications for the management of one-third of New Zealand’s land mass.

Our position is built on the firm principle that conservation must remain the primary purpose of public lands, with recreation fostered as the principal public benefit. A central pillar of our advocacy is resolving the long-standing and "unjust" concessions anomaly by seeking a permanent legislative exemption for not-for-profit outdoor education providers and tertiary institutions. We believe the law must recognise these providers as professional partners in conservation rather than commercial enterprises.

We also address the significant public interest regarding land disposal and exchange, urging that recreation values and public access receive the same level of statutory protection as ecological values.

Read our full submission below to understand our vision for a modern conservation management system that prioritises both the protection of our natural heritage and the wellbeing of all New Zealanders

Read our submission

For more details, please read:

Submission on the Conservation Amendment Bill

Questions or feedback

If you have any questions, or want to share your views, please contact our Advocacy Manager, Sam Newton, by email: sam@nzrecreation.org.nz