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Board Members and DOC staff in the Fox Riverbed observing the Landfill outfall. Photo: Joy Comrie | DOC
Welcome to the Conservation Boards' Newsletter
Issue 13 : June 2019
Kia ora anō
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to conservation and your contributions to our conservation boards. It’s been a busy few months and I’m very appreciative of the work we’re doing together to back nature.
This month I was proud to announce, with Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash, the strong action we're taking to protect Māui and Hector's dolphins. The options for strengthening the Threat Management Plan include more than doubling the area closed to set nets and trawl fishing to protect Māui dolphins from the risk of bycatch, and extensions to the West Coast North Island and Banks Peninsula marine mammal sanctuaries.
A big thank you to all the people who have been involved to date in advocating for and undertaking other work to protect these magnificent endemic dolphins. Submissions on the plan are open and I’d encourage you to alert your communities’ to share their views to make sure Māui and Hector’s get the best support possible.
Another highlight for me was a recent visit to Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) – it was fantastic to see first-hand how much expertise and work DOC staff, volunteers, and supporting organisations are putting in to care for kākāpō. I’m proud of the dedication and expertise of DOC’s team and their work with Ngāi Tahu in leading the recovery of this important taonga species.
In Budget 2018 the Government provided DOC with the biggest funding increase 16 years. In Budget 2019 we did it again with an extra $180 million for DOC over four years flowing from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. This funding will go towards projects that protect and enhance nature and biodiversity, ensure there is appropriate infrastructure for visitors and sound planning for the future.
In addition, Budget 2019 provides $10.7 million to enhance the safety and security of DOC staff and volunteers, who are on the front line of looking after nature and recreational assets every day. Details on the funding secured in this year’s budget can be found here.
Earlier in May I was pleased to announce, again alongside Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash, the action we’re taking to protect marine habitats. We have directed DOC and Fisheries New Zealand to progress marine protection network 1 off the South Canterbury and Otago coast. It includes five potential marine reserves and another six protected areas extending over more than 1,267km2. It is the larger and more comprehensive option proposed by the South East Marine Protection Forum and would ensure 18 of the 22 marine habitats in this bioregion were protected.
As Minister for Conservation I’m committed to safeguarding healthy marine ecosystems. Once again, I would like to thank the Forum for all the hard work they put into this challenging process, and we are delighted that we can take their work forward to completion.
Over the last few months I’ve also had the privilege of visiting DOC offices around Aotearoa and learning more about the dedicated work happening on the ground that goes into protecting our unique biodiversity and making sure visitors are able to get out into nature, enjoy it, and look after it. Thank you all for your ongoing contributions to conservation.
Ngā mihi nui,
Hon. Eugenie Sage
Minister of Conservation
Minister of Conservation, Hon Eugenie Sage, on her recent visit to Whenua Hou to see the amazing work of the Kākāpō Recovery programme, pictured with Atareta-2A. Photo: Supplied
Updates from the conservation boards
Te Hiku o Te Ika
The Board continues to support the development of the Te Hiku Conservation Management Strategy.
Waikato
Kauri dieback disease phytophthora agathidicida is a real concern for the Board, particularly on the Coromandel Peninsula where the disease has the potential to decimate large areas of native forest. Although more is being learnt about it, there is still no cure and the best we can do is try to limit it's spread.
Tongariro/Taupo
The Board’s work has most recently been focused on the Turoa Indicative Development Plan, a requirement under the Tongariro National Park Management Plan, and providing feedback on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing concessions currently being processed.
Taranaki/Whanganui
The Board at their meeting on Thursday 30 May discussed the pending Court of Appeal Hearing, opposing seabed mining, which is scheduled to be heard from 24 – 26 September 2019.
Chatham Islands
The Board continues to flourish. Between 2018 and 2019 we saw a change of Board chair and the addition of two new Board members. A key focus of the Board has been examining threatened species management and the work of the Chatham Island Area Office.
West Coast Tai Poutini
The Board have had a busy start to the year, with multiple meetings and other events. This included hosting the New Zealand Conservation Authority for a West Coast field trip ahead of the Authority’s April Meeting. The Board have ongoing concerns about the Fox landfill clean-up.
Otago
The Board continues to prepare for the Mt Aspiring National Park Management Plan review. They have had a busy start to the year with two meetings and a field trip, discussing predator control, monitoring of aircrafts in national parks and tenure review.
Consultations open for your comment
Application by Southern Discoveries Limited
Have your say on an application by Southern Discoveries Ltd for a lease concession at Cleddau Village, Deepwater Basin in Fiordland National Park.
Submissions close 1 July 2019.Hector’s and Māui Dolphins Threat Management Plan Review
Have your say on the plan to protect Hector’s and Māui dolphins. Submissions close 4 August 2019.Application to hold whale bone
Have your say on an application by Auckland Aquarium Limited for a permit to hold whale bones. Submissions close 5 July 2019.New assessment of the conservation status of New Zealand marine invertebrates
Have your say any changes in status of New Zealand marine invertebrates. Submissions close 31 July 2019.New assessment of the conservation status of New Zealand spiders
Have your say on any changes in status of New Zealand spiders. Submissions close 31 July 2019.Concession opportunity – Titirangi Farm Park
Express your interest to be a concessionaire at Titirangi Farm Park in the Marlborough Sounds.Concession opportunity for the subantarctic islands
Express your interest to be a concessionaire at the subantarctic islands.Concession opportunity – tendering Taupo Nursery
Express your interest to be a concessionaire at Taupo Nursery.Concession opportunity – tendering Morere Springs
Express your interest to be a concessionaire at Morere Springs.Improving whitebait management
Find out about the work we're doing to improve the management of whitebait.
Keep up to date with public consultations here.
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Email rmcgovern@doc.govt.nz
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