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Conservation Act 1987

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Protecting New Zealand's Special Places and Things"

Illustration for Conservation Act 1987

This law helps protect New Zealand's natural and historic resources. You can think of natural resources as things like forests, rivers, and animals. The law also protects historic resources, which are important places and things from New Zealand's past.

The law creates a special group called the Department of Conservation. This group is in charge of helping to protect New Zealand's natural and historic resources.

The Department of Conservation works to conserve New Zealand's natural and historic resources for you and future generations.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM103609.

Highlights from this law

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationArts and culture > Heritage protectionGovernment and voting > Government departments
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1: Short Title and commencement, or

"The name and start date of the Conservation Act 1987 law"

Conservation Act 1987

Reprint as at:
2025-08-21
Assent:
1987-03-31
Commencement:
see section 1(2)

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Department of Conservation.

An Act to promote the conservation of New Zealand's natural and historic resources, and for that purpose to establish a Department of Conservation

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