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Bigger parks but some DOC land may sell

Paparoa National Park would double in size, a special Ngāi Tahu historic reserve created, and some Crown land sold under new recommendations.

Joanne Naish reports.

West Coast national parks are proposed to grow by 77,000 hectares, a special Ngāi Tahu historic reserve will be created and some Crown land could be sold off under new recommendations.

The recommendations, which will be up for public consultation before a final decision is made by the minister for conservation, include doubling the size of Paparoa National Park and the creation of a 500ha new Ngāi Tahu historic reserve.

They have been made by a panel of experts in a Government review of stewardship land on the West Coast and across the top of the South Island announced in November.

A total of 644,000ha is to be reclassified on the West Coast and of that, 77,000ha is proposed to go into national park, 348,000ha will be classified as conservation park and 66ha would be sold off.

Stewardship land was allocated to the Department of Conservation (DOC) when it was formed in 1987. About 30% of conservation land, or 2.5 million hectares, is stewardship land, accounting for oneninth of all New Zealand land – and onethird of the West Coast.

Environmental groups had feared the review would reduce protection for areas of high conservation value. Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) and Forest & Bird previously said most, if not all, of the land should remain under DOC management and the small sections of low value should be rehabilitated to help tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

They called for the proceeds of any land sold off to go into a nature rehabilitation fund.

Conservation Minister Kiri Allan said the recommendations were made by a panel including technical experts in ecology, recreation and heritage to review the land, as well as a mana whenua panel after a legal challenge by Ngā i Tahu.

The panels went through each parcel of land using site visits, GIS mapping technology, satellite photography and ma¯ tauranga Ma¯ ori knowledge.

The recommendations will go out for public consultation on Monday until 5pm on July 26 and a final decision will be made by Allan.

‘‘The reclassification of stewardship land has been put in the too-hard basket for 30-plus years.

‘‘But once it is done it will mean the land is appropriately protected for its natural, cultural, and heritage values and managed for the right reasons and purpose,’’ Allan said.

About 182,000 ha is recommended to be historic reserve, 505ha would be local purpose (Ngā i Tahu) reserve and 11,965 ha scenic reserve. Other classifications include ecological areas, wildlife management areas and recreation reserve.

National park status provides the maximum level of protection.

Land has to be maintained in its natural state, conservation park is primarily for the protection of its natural and historic resources, historic reserves protect historic and cultural sites as well as native flora and fauna, and recreational reserves are areas of open space suitable for recreation and sporting activities and the physical welfare and enjoyment of the public.

Allan said any existing rights on stewardship land – such as concessions for tourism activities or grazing licences – could continue for the duration of the concession regardless of whether that parcel of land was reclassified.

Access for the gathering of pounamu under the Ngā i Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act would also be unaffected.

‘‘The panels have done an outstanding job of assessing each parcel of land and conducting site visits in the region, a region with some of this country’s most outstanding ecological, historical, cultural and recreation values,’’ she said.

A Ngā i Tahu mana whenua panel and a national panel had been working together to make recommendations on the future use of the whenua since November.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai said it was a ‘‘rare opportunity’’ for all New Zealanders to consider the future use of the whenua, and she encouraged people to share their feedback.

Stewardship land made up a large part of the Ngāi Tahu takiwā, and the reclassification process was of the utmost significance to Ngā i Tahu, she said.

‘‘The Ngā i Tahu mana whenua panel has worked closely with the national panel by providing information on mahinga kai, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and our future aspirations for the use of the whenua.’’

The largest proposed reserve would be known as Tarahanga e Toru Historic Reserve. At about 181,000ha, the area is of ‘‘immense significance’’ to Ngā i Tahu and includes three main pounamu trails, Tumahai said.

‘‘Tarahanga e Toru is at the heart of many Poutini Ngāi Tahu legends, customs, and traditions.

‘‘These trails were lifelines for Poutini Ngā i Tahu and used as trading routes for pounamu and kai in times of peace and war.’’

The two panels did not agree on proposed additions to national parks and made separate recommendations.

‘‘Ngāi Tahu and the mana whenua panel do not support expanding the national parks within our takiwā,’’ she said.

‘‘The National Parks Act restricts Ngā i Tahu from undertaking our kaitiaki rights and responsibilities, while limiting the meaningful involvement of Ngā i Tahu in decision-making.’’

Further assessments were being done over the next month to make recommendations on three remaining areas making up 140,000ha of land in South Westland.

‘‘The reclassification of stewardship land has been put in the too-hard basket for 30-plus years.’’ Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan

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2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281681143501813

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