Many Kiwis have a love-hate relationship with the Department of Conservation (DOC). It has been considered a worse neighbour than the Mongrel Mob, a not-always facetious comparison caused by red tape, fees, bullying and failures to carry out basic functions. On the other hand, DOC has since its establishment in 1987 stood as a pillar of New Zealand’s identity, safeguarding the country’s natural treasures and facilitating outdoor recreation.
Currently DOC is asking for feedback for a proposed Conservation Amendment Bill, scheduled for 2026. While the media have focussed on the potential for user-pays in National Parks, another aim is to simplify policies and processes – and this is to be commended. However, many of the proposals have an overt emphasis on prioritising race-based businesses, entitlements, philosophies and practices. DOC clearly desires a further embedding of discrimination and division into the management of our public lands, threatening the egalitarian ethos of New Zealand society.
Bureaucracy Committed to Division
DOC’s discussion document, Modernising Conservation Land Management, outlines a framework heavily weighted toward racial prioritising of iwi and hapū interests. The document suggests that those identifying as Māori possess unique entitlements to conservation land, citing ancestral ties and kaitiakitanga (undefined) as justification. However, this approach raises critical questions about fairness and equality in public land management.
DOC’s stated commitment to engaging with iwi as “Treaty partners” highlights the co-governance philosophy that has been so rapidly undermining our democracy and economic productivity under recent governments.
The current coalition Government is failing to commit to rein in race-based practices in our public services. Existing and proposed privileges in the allocation of conservation resources and decision-making processes include prioritising iwi consultation, easing concession requirements for Māori businesses, enabling land disposals or exchanges to benefit iwi, and devolving certain other powers to iwi. An appalling example of this is the level of control over public policy, public lands and publicly funded facilities given to the racially blended, tribal and business superpower of Ngai Tahu in the South Island. It’s incredible what hardworking Kiwis have ‘gifted’ this very wealthy organisation.
Feedback from Concerned Citizens
DOC’s current proposals are contrary to a conservation and recreation framework that serves all New Zealanders equally. Key concerns are:
- Discriminatory Practices: DOC’s preferential treatment of iwi fosters legalised corruption, resentment and division. The prioritisation of the fictional “Treaty partners” disregards the public’s interest and prevents trust in DOC’s impartiality.
- Undefined Concepts: Terms like kaitiaki, tikanga, and matauranga are frequently cited in the discussion document but, as always, lack any definitions, creating ambiguity and potential for misuse. Such undefined words are being used to embed arbitrary and inconsistent practices into law.
- Erosion of Public Access: Proposals to increase iwi control over public land raise concerns about potential restrictions on New Zealanders. Ensuring open, equal access to conservation and recreation land for all is essential to maintaining public trust and unity. After all, we pay for it.
- Economic Inequities: The exemption of many Māori businesses from taxes due to their classification under charitable organisations creates an uneven playing field, disadvantaging other tourism and recreational businesses. Fair competition requires consistent rules for all operators, regardless of ancestry.
- Historical Misinterpretations: The notion of a “partnership” between the Crown and iwi, as frequently referenced by DOC, lacks any grounding in the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. It was not intended to create a system in which tribal chiefs demand and taxpayers pay and obey.
Simple, Practical Recommendations
To modernise and improve its practices, DOC must prioritise:
- Equality: Treat all New Zealanders equally under the law, without favouritism based on ancestry or identity.
- Efficiency: Streamline processes by reducing bureaucracy and focusing on practical, cost-efficient, on-the-ground conservation and recreation efforts. Weak economies such as ours simply can’t afford the luxuries of ceremonial whale burials on hilltops or returning stray penguins to the Southern Ocean.
- Transparency: Ensure decisions about land exchanges, concessions, and policies are made openly, competitively and fairly. Notifications must be via a wide range of media (not just in declining newspapers or racially-motivated organisations).
- Accountability: Incorporate safeguards in all activities to prevent operational failures, intimidation and corruption. User-pays and taxpayer funds must be used for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
- Simplification: Adopt a “Keep It Simple” approach to DOC’s activities, permitting natural or essential activities (e.g. stormwater flows or lifesaving remote bivvies and huts) without rules, paperwork and fees. Doc must eliminate unnecessary impositions, complexities and race-based criteria.
Respect & Unite New Zealanders
DOC’s proposed reforms can only deepen societal divisions and undermine the shared values that bind New Zealanders. The focus on racial differentiation detracts from DOC’s core mission — to protect and preserve the natural environment and get people into the outdoors — for the benefit of us all.
It is imperative that DOC’s policies reflect the principles of fairness, inclusivity and common purpose. By prioritising these values, the Government can foster a united and prosperous country where our public lands remain a source of pride and enjoyment for everyone. The path forward must honour all New Zealanders by upholding equality and rejecting divisive ideologies.
| Submissions on DOC’s discussion documents will close on 28 February 2025. https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/have-your-say/all-consultations/2024-consultations/proposals-to-modernise-the-conservation-system/ |