No images? Click here WELCOME TO THE CONSERVATION BOARDS' NEWSLETTERINSIDE THIS ISSUE: Keep up to date with the activities of Conservation Boards around Aotearoa. In this issue discover highlights from Te Hiku o Te Ika, Waikato, Tongariro Taupo, Taranaki Whanganui, Chatham Islands, West Coast Tai Poutini, and Otago Conservation Boards. Issue 23 : December 2021 A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTERHon Kiritapu Allan, Minister of Conservation, speaking to press at the announcement of the proposed Conservation Law Reforms | Photo courtesy of the Minister's Office Tēnā koutou katoa As I write this I am looking out on a grey, wet and, dare I say it, cold Wellington day. It’s early December. In the last 24 hours parts of the region have seen more rain than in an entire month. The week before it was the West Coast that was being inundated – the second time in as many weeks – and the fortnight before that I was in Gisborne when it, too, copped a deluge leading to slips, road closures and some very damp carpets. It was a timely reminder that climate change and everything it brings with it is a challenge that needs to be tackled head on. Which brings me to the annual round of Conservation Board appointments. Conservation boards provide an opportunity to bring your community’s voice to the table, to be part of the collective action responding to climate change. The importance of local conservation knowledge is absolutely crucial to finding durable solutions to the myriad of threats biodiversity faces. And if that sounds like a platitude, it’s not. It’s a plea for everyone who cares to put their hat in the ring. Applications close 31 January 2022. To those who are stepping aside, thank you for being part of the team. Speaking of which, November kicked off a new era for the wider DOC crew, with Penny Nelson taking up the role of Director-General. Penny, who has worked in the environment, biodiversity and science sectors, brings a wealth of experience with her. Meanwhile, this month is shaping up to be a biggie: I announced plans to not only review the outdated Wildlife Act but also simplify conservation management planning and processes, which have been the source of much frustration and confusion over many years. Alongside that we’re working to improve the Trade in Endangered Species Act, processes for stewardship land review and reclassification and increase marine protection for the Hauraki Gulf. December also sees Te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands) Marine Mammal Sanctuary come into force. Designed to protect the Bay’s iconic bottle nose dolphins and other marine mammals from the harmful effects of the near constant presence of people, it still lets boaties enjoy and use the beautiful waters of the bay, but in a way that allows our marine mammals to as well. Anyway, that’s enough from me. To all of you, a sincere thank you for your contribution over the last 12 months. I know it’s been tough for everyone, in all sorts of ways, so please make sure you take a break and enjoy as much time as possible with your friends and whanau. Ngā mihi o te wā o Hineraumati ki a koutou katoa Hon Kiri Allan Minister of Conservation | Minita mō Te Papa Atawhai INTERESTED IN JOINING A BOARD?Nominations are now open for conservation board appointments in 2022! These boards advise DOC, represent local communities including mana whenua, and protect local nature. Find out more about what's involved and apply online. Closing date for nominations is 31 January 2022. UPDATES AND HIGHLIGHTSTE HIKU O TE IKAThe Te Hiku o Te Ika Conservation Board’s top priority is the drafting of the Te Hiku Conservation Management Strategy. Te Hiku Conservation Board public meeting on 4 November 2021 The first online public meeting with the Board's new members was held on 4 November via MS Teams. The meeting was well received by the Board, with very good participation and contribution. An acknowledgement also to Te Papa Atawhai staff for their continual support and contributions. The Board confirmed the additional Co-Chair for the coming year, Waitai Petera, Iwi Representative from Te Rūnanga nui o Te Aupōuri. Jo Shanks, Tui Quaqau, and Mina Pomare have been tasked with our Communications Strategy. Our objectives will include lifting the Board's profile, informing people of specific topics, increasing understanding and awareness of our Taiao, and improving, building and enhancing relationships with the iwi of Te Hiku. “If you look after the environment, the environment will look after you, kaitiakitanga means sustainability.” We are very fortunate and honoured to have Mina Pomare-Peita, as one of our community representatives on the Board. Mina is a well-respected Māori leader and Principal of Te Kura Taumata o Pangaru, and she believes that if you look after the environment, the environment will look after you, kaitiakitanga means sustainability. Find out more about Mina's mahi and passion for rangitahi and Taiao. The Board’s top priority currently is to draft the Te Hiku Conservation Management Strategy (CMS). Progress has been hindered with the COVID-19 Delta restrictions. The Board had to cancel site visits to areas of cultural significance and all “face-to-face” gatherings. The Board acknowledges the position of the iwi collective from across Te Taitokerau in keeping our borders safe. The Te Hiku CMS Working Group meetings are held virtually every fortnight, which include the engagement process with iwi, hapū and whanau, as it remains an integral part in the process. Utilisation of existing relationships with Te Hiku iwi and their networks will help to develop an effective ongoing consultation process. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Te Hiku o Te Ika Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. TE HIKU CMS - the Board is seeking engagement on the development of the Te Hiku CMS. Register your interest at: tehikuCMS@doc.qovt.nz WAIKATOThe Waikato Conservation Board has been affected significantly with COVID-19 lockdowns over this past year. Virtual meetings have become the new normal with only two members being able to represent the board in the wider area. The Pinnacles view looking northeast, Coromandel Forest Park | Photo by Alan Cressler During this time, mining company OceanaGold signalled its intent to apply for an extension to its current underground mining operation. They plan to create a new underground access to a site they have an exploratory licence for, at Wharekirauponga, which is located in the Coromandel Forest Park. Hauraki District Council staff along with DOC management were invited to a site visit to discuss the overall project including mine material deposit, water and wastewater management, and reclamation. DOC extended this invitation to Board member, Rob Chappell. At this same time OceanaGold also provided a helicopter to allow an overview of the proposed location, including a close up of the present camp sites approved within the DOC estate. Two weeks later DOC management, Rob Chappell, and local Iwi were invited back and introduced to the proposed underground operation design, mechanisms and processes followed by a two-hour tour of the current underground operation. Joining the tour was Hauraki DOC Manager, Avi Holzapfel, accompanied by staff from both the Hauraki and Tauranga offices. This has provided management and staff with good knowledge base in going forward in this area. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Waikato Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. TONGARIRO TAUPOThe Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board has continued their commitment this year to strengthen relationships with Iwi and are pleased to now have representatives from all four iwi sitting around the Board table at meetings.Lake Taupo and Motutaiko Island with the Tongariro National Park in the background | Photo by Dick Veitch Representatives from Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Rangi, Uenuku and Ngāti Haua sit around the table at Board meetings. This has proved hugely beneficial to the Board and they look forward to continuing to strengthen these relationships into the future. As part of this the Board has adopted a system of co-chairs with one chair elected by the board as a whole and the other co-chair position filled by the member representing the Iwi which has mana whenua over the rohe in which the meeting will be held. The review of the Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) remains a high priority for the Board with a subcommittee established to help develop a plan for progression over the coming 12 months. Turangi Viewpoint | Photo by Jimmy Johnson The resurgence of COVID-19 in New Zealand has seen Board meetings move to an online forum over recent months to ensure everyone is kept safe. The May meeting, held in Turangi, focused on key priorities such as the CMS review and updating and strengthening iwi relationships. The Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tuwharetoa Strategic Advisory Group joined the hui and presented an in depth overview to the Board sharing Ngāti Tuwharetoa’s history, structure, purpose, settlement and redress process. In July the Board returned to Turangi with a focus on introductions for newly appointed Board Members, Clint Green and Kylie Simpson, as well as welcoming newly co-opted Ngāti Haua member, Graham Bell. The CMS review discussion remained a core focus, as well as briefings from DOC on important issues the Board wishes to stay informed on, including ski season and transport updates, and Jobs for Nature Projects. The September meeting was held online due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. A shortened meeting this month meant priority areas such as CMS review, Three Waters Project at Whakapapa, and co-governance models took priority. The Board decided to include a field trip in November to view the Three Waters Project at the next meeting subject to Covid-19 restrictions allowances, to ensure they fully understand the Project and can keep their communities informed. During this fieldtrip, the Board met with the Te Ara Mangawhero Cycle Trail group to gain a greater understanding of the Cycle Trail Project, including a walk with Board Member Murray Wilson along the Marton Sash and Door Tramway Trail, before heading to Whakapapa Village for a full overview of the Three Waters Project. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. INTERESTED IN JOINING A BOARD?Nominations are now open for conservation board appointments in 2022! These boards advise DOC, represent local communities including mana whenua, and protect local nature. Find out more about what's involved and apply online. Closing date for nominations is 31 January 2022. TARANAKI WHANGANUIThe Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board has welcomed the Supreme Court decision in its long running case against Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd, on the company’s proposal to mine iron sand from the Taranaki Bight seafloor. Board members outside the New Zealand Supreme Court, along with ex-HWT Statutory Manager Gemma White and lawyer James Gardner Hopkins | Photo courtesy of the Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board In the latest development, the Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of the Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTRL), against an earlier Court of Appeal judgement in favour of the Board and other parties opposed to the marine consent granted to TTRL by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Decision-Making Committee. The EPA’s Decision-Making Committee originally granted TTRL a marine consent to extract up to 12.5 million tonnes of seabed material during any three-month period and up to 50 million tonnes annually, and to process that material on an integrated mining vessel.
The decision provides important legal precedent and guidance, for all future applications for marine consents in the Act. Some of the key findings in the Supreme Courts ruling include:
The Board is encouraged by and pleased with the Supreme Court's ruling, and is now waiting to see if TTRL pursues other legal avenues available to it, including an option to ask the EPA to reconsider its application, potentially with modifications in light of the Supreme Court’s findings. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. CHATHAM ISLANDSThe Chatham Islands Conservation Board has undergone a few changes since June 2021 and remains busy managing conservation on the Chatham Islands. June Meeting, Judy Kamo outgoing chair | Photo by Peter de Lange June saw then Board Chair Judy Kamo unexpectedly resign. Judy has served two years as Chair, steering the board through a change in Operations Manager and the Moriori Treaty Settlement with its implications for conservation management arising from the Moriori Deed of Settlement. Judy’s plain common sense, good humour and sterling work ethic were a boon for the board, and she will be sorely missed. The Board's June meeting was the longest the Board has had in years, full with good mahi. Read more about the events and topics discussed at the board's June meeting on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand website. In August at Kopinga Marae, the Board welcomed new members Alfred Johanson and Levi Lanauze at their first meeting of the year, and introduced themselves and their roles on the Board. Peter de Lange was elected as Chairperson, with Trescia Lawson being elected as Deputy-Chair. "Judy’s plain common sense, good humour and sterling work ethic was a boon for the board, she will be sorely missed." Issues discussed included the upcoming Structured Decision making hui for karure/kakaruia/black robin (Petroica traversi). Tom Hitchon (DOC Ranger Biodiversity/Heritage and Visitors) attended and talked about his work on threatened plants and weeds. Hamish Chisholm (Predator Free 2050 coordinator, Chatham Islands) attended and gave an update on his recent work. The Board also held an outgoing dinner for Board members Susan Thorpe and Amanda Seymour, as well as the outgoing Director-General, Lou Sanson. Unfortunately Judy Kamo was unable to attend. Lou Sanson and Board members at farewell dinner, Waitangi Hotel, Chatham Island | Photo by Toni Croon In November at the DOC office in Te One, Levi Lanauze was nominated to represent the Board in the Tourism Chatham Islands forum. This involves attending meetings and updating the Board. Discussions were also held around public behaviour on the beaches during nesting season and the Board supported the advocacy DOC was doing around this. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Chatham Islands Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. WEST COAST TAI POUTINIThe West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Boards focus has been welcoming four new board members who bring with them a wide range of skills and enthusiasms. Dolomite Point, Paparoa National Park, West Coast | Photo by Les Molloy The July meeting, held online, brought a number of changes to the Board, and was the first meeting for the newly appointed members. It was pleasing to see that amongst the Board members there was a range of skills which should serve the Board well as it moves into 2022. Due to an unforeseen anomaly in the Board Standing Orders it was necessary to hold an election for a Board Chair at this meeting, to which Dr Mike Legge was elected. He thanked Inger Perkins, who had been the Acting Chair, for her work with the Board in a difficult transition over the last year and invited her to Co-Chair the July meeting. The Board received an update on the Dolomite Point project from Owen Kilgour, Operations Manager Hokitika, which indicated that the project was well on track, and it was pleasing to see the partnership between Ngāti WaeWae and DOC was working well. Kopa Lee was at the meeting and spoke to his new role as Pou Tairangahau / Strategic Iwi Relations Manager for DOC. He was accompanied by Harvey Ruru from the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board. By September, the Board had received notification of the resignation of three Board members, Inger Perkins, Neil Silverwood, and Suzanne Hill. Regrettably Kara Edwards, the Makaawhio representative, also resigned as she accepted a secondment opportunity to DOC. Makaawhio, responded quickly and a nominee was provided who is currently undergoing the appointment process. These members will be missed by the Board as they brought many skills and varied knowledge to the Board meetings and beyond. At the Board's September meeting, Jess Curtis (DOC Strategic Projects Manager Tourism Pressures) provided an update on the Opārara development; it was pleasing to see the two Boards (Nelson Marlborough and West Coast Tai Poutini) working so well together on this project in conjunction with DOC. Presentations were also given on the South Westland visitor experience and Te Tai Poutini destination planning. In between Board meetings, the Chair met with the three district councils to introduce the board and encourage open dialogue as well as attending the Southland Conservation Board meeting as their guest. The Board held its final meeting of 2021 at the end of November, where it established its priorities and directions for the 2022 year. The year no doubt will be interesting and the Board members look forward to taking on new challenges. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. OTAGOThe Otago Conservation Board was delighted to meet in person in October, after a series of COVID-19 disruptions to in-person meetings. Above all, the Board has been focused on its Otago CMS partial review. Board members at Tuckers Beach Regeneration Project (Jobs for Nature) | Photo courtesy of Otago Conservation Board The Board's meetings have continued to be disrupted by changing COVID-19 alert levels, with MS Teams meetings held online as an alternative. This has been particularly unfortunate for the new board members who started in July. The Board was fortunate to finally be able to meet up in person in Queenstown in October to connect and enjoy a live dynamic. The June meeting was focused on the key priorities which are fed through the subcommittees of CMS Partial Review, Biodiversity, Visitor Management, Land Reclassification, Self-Review/Communications, and strengthening understanding of Section 4. The Southland Conservation Board joined online for a session delivered by DOC on the partial review of the General Policies. In August the Board welcomed new members Gareth Hughes and Tim Barke and said goodbye to Donald Lousley. The online meeting began with new member inductions and its primary function was a public session in which the revised Otago Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) partial review was formally handed over to the board. Kea Conservation Trust talking to Otago Conservation Board members | Photo courtesy of Otago Conservation Board In September the Chair called an emergency meeting due to the need to get recommendations on the draft CMS review to the NZ Conservation Authority (NZCA) by mid September, consistent with section 4.7 of the Board's Standing Orders. At this meeting the Board unanimously agreed to recommend the draft partial review of the Otago CMS for biking to the NZCA for their consideration. For the Board, the Department, and the community this represented the culmination of a year of intensive work and the Board have confidence in the draft. Board members at Tuckers Beach Regeneration Project | Photo by Otago Conservation Board In October the board was delighted to finally be able to meet in Queenstown, and work through its key priorities for the year ahead, refine its focus, mix and match members to subcommittees, and undertake a CMS Milestones session with DOC staff. They followed up the next day with a presentation by Kea Conservation Trust highlighting the threats and issues of this passionate group, and then met with project leaders of Jobs for Nature regarding the Tucker Beach regeneration project. GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Otago Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website. CONSULTATIONS OPEN FOR YOUR COMMENT
Keep up to date with more public consultations here. THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING TO OUR NEWSLETTER Next time in the Conservation Board Newsletter, we hear from Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, East Coast Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Nelson Marlborough, Canterbry Aoraki, and Southland Conservation Boards! |