Conservation Bill ‘step backwards’

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 39

Conservation Bill ‘step backwards’

Wellington

The Government’s Conservation Bill was a big step backwards in the preservation of natural lands, said the Federated Mountain Clubs.

“We are disappointed by the vague, unfinished and legally inadequate provisions of this bill,” the federation told Parliament’s Planning and Development Select Committee, which is considering the bill. The bill, introduced last year, would create a new Conservation Department, absorbing elements of other departments, such as Lands and Survey, the Forest Service and Internal Affairs. The Minister of Conservation, Mr Marshall, said when introducing the bill that it would allow "clear lines” for policy

advice and the new administration would be far more efficient in managing protected areas. However, Federated Mountain Clubs said the bill undermined longstanding principles in the way public lands were managed.

“Because of these defects, it is a major step backwards both on the level of protection to natural and semi-natural lands, and on the guarantee of meaningful public involvement in the management of these lands.”

The federation was particularly concerned about what it called:

• The unchallengeable powers given to the Minister and the department. • Lack of any mechanism by which the public could challenge decisions. • Loosening of disposal processes and reduction

of statutory minimum conditions for conservation lands.

• Lack of an adequate definition of conservation, and of adequate guidelines for protection of the natural or semi-natural features of conservation lands.

• Provisions making deerstalking an offence. “The major cause of past conflict between the Forest Service and the public was that the Forest' Service (and its Minister) was both judge and jury of what was done on public lands. This bill unfortunately continues this past mistake.” The federation called for an authority or board system to be included in the bill, to allow for an independent assessment of Ministerial decisions concerning conservation lands.