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Conservation Act 1987
Preliminary
1: Short Title and commencement

Part 1:
Preliminary

1Short Title and commencement 2Interpretation 3Act to bind the Crown 3ATransitional, savings, and related provisions 4Act to give effect to Treaty of Waitangi

Part 2:
Establishment and functions of Department of Conservation

5Department of Conservation 6Functions of Department

Part 2A:
New Zealand Conservation Authority and Conservation Boards

New Zealand Conservation Authority

6ANew Zealand Conservation Authority established 6BFunctions of Authority 6CPowers of Authority 6DMembership 6EAnnual report 6FTerm of office of members of Authority 6GChairperson of Authority 6HMeetings of Authority 6IDirector-General entitled to attend meetings of Authority 6JServicing of Authority 6KFees and travelling expenses of members of Authority

Conservation Boards

6LConservation Boards established 6MFunctions of Boards 6NPowers of Boards 6OAnnual report 6PMembership of Conservation Boards 6QCo-opted members 6RTerm of office of members of Boards 6SChairpersons of Boards 6TMeetings of Boards 6UDirector-General entitled to attend meetings of Boards 6VServicing of Boards 6WFees and travelling expenses of members of Boards

Part 2B:
Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai, and Te Anau

6XGuardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai, and Te Anau

Part 3:
Conservation areas

7Land may be acquired and held for conservation purposes 8Conservation area may become reserve, national park, etc 9Policy statements for conservation areas 10Management plans 11Procedure for preparing and amending management plans 12Effect of management plans 13Conservation areas may be closed 14Conditions on the issuing of leases and licences, and disposal of conservation areas 15Creation of easements 16Disposal of conservation areas 16AExchanges of stewardship areas 17Access to conservation areas

Part 3A:
Management planning

17AConservation areas to be managed by Department 17BGeneral policy 17CGeneral policy under more than 1 Act 17DConservation management strategies 17EConservation management plans 17FProcedure for preparation and approval of conservation management strategies 17GProcedure for preparation and approval of conservation management plans 17HReviews of conservation management strategies and conservation management plans 17IAmendments to conservation management strategies and conservation management plans 17JFreshwater fisheries management plans 17KProcedure for preparation, approval, review, and amendment of freshwater fisheries management plans 17LSports fish and game management plans 17MProcedure for preparation, approval, review, and amendment of sports fish and game management plans 17NEffect of general policies, conservation management strategies, and management plans

Part 3B:
Concessions

17OApplication 17PRelationship with Resource Management Act 1991 17QPowers to grant concessions 17RApplications for leases, licences, etc 17SContents of application 17SAMinister may return application that lacks required information 17SBMinister may decline application that is obviously inconsistent with Act, etc 17SCPublic notification of application for leases, licences, permits, or easements 17SDMinister may require applicant to provide further information 17SEMinister may commission report or advice 17TMinister to consider applications 17UMatters to be considered by Minister 17VLimitations on concessions and leases over marginal strips 17WRelationship between concessions and conservation management strategies and plans 17XPower of Minister to impose and enforce conditions 17YRents, fees, and royalties 17ZTerm of concession 17ZAAConcession may continue after application for new concession 17ZAABConcession may continue after process initiated under section 17ZG(2)(a)17ZARegistration of easements 17ZBAccounts 17ZCChanging conditions 17ZDFailure to execute or exercise concession document 17ZETransfers, subleases, and mortgages 17ZFAircraft 17ZGManagement activities 17ZHPowers of Minister where services are provided by the Minister or the Director-General 17ZIRecords 17ZJReconsideration of decisions

Part 4:
Specially protected areas

18AAGovernor-General may confer additional protection or preservation requirements 18ABGovernor-General may declare that wetland be notified to Ramsar Secretariat 18Minister may confer additional specific protection or preservation requirements 19Conservation parks 20Wilderness areas 21Ecological areas 22Sanctuary areas 23Watercourse areas 23AAmenity areas 23BWildlife management areas

Part 4A:
Marginal strips

24Marginal strips reserved 24APower to reduce width of marginal strip 24AAPower to increase width of marginal strip 24BPower to declare certain dispositions to be exempt from section 24 24BANotification of intention to reduce marginal strip or to grant exemption 24CPurposes of marginal strips 24DReservation of marginal strips to be recorded 24EExchange of marginal strips 24FRight of Crown to half of bed of river adjoining former land of the Crown 24GEffect of change to boundary of marginal strips 24HManagement of marginal strips 24IEasements 24JResumption of marginal strips by Crown 24KProvisions applying in relation to land vested under New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990 24LPublic access rights

Part 5:
Stewardship areas

25Management of stewardship areas 26Disposal of stewardship areas

Part 5A:
Sports Fish and Game Councils

Fish and Game Councils

Part 5B:
Freshwater fisheries

26ZGApplication of Part

Maori fishing rights

26ZHMaori fishing rights unaffected by this Part

Indigenous freshwater fish

26ZHAApproval under specified Acts to access public land is not approval for recreational fishing of indigenous freshwater fish 26ZHBProhibitions and restrictions on taking of indigenous freshwater fish 26ZHCDirector-General may authorise taking of indigenous fish on application 26ZHDDirector-General may authorise taking of indigenous fish by notice

Sports fisheries

26ZITaking sports fish without licence prohibited

Spawning fish

26ZJOffences relating to spawning fish 26ZJADirector-General may declare spawning area

Various restrictions relating to fishing and aquatic life

26ZKFishing competitions relating to sports fish 26ZLRestrictions on fishing 26ZMTransfer or release of live aquatic life 26ZNFishing rights not to be sold or let 26ZOOccupier may fish without licence

Miscellaneous provisions

26ZPDetermination of closed seasons for fishing 26ZQBuying, selling, or possessing fish, contrary to Act 26ZQAPossessing certain kinds of fish without approval 26ZRUsing hazardous substances to catch or destroy fish

Part 5C:
Control of dogs

26ZSControlled dog areas and open dog areas 26ZTAreas excluded from open dog areas 26ZUMatters that may be included in declarations of controlled dog areas or open dog areas 26ZVMatters about which Minister must be satisfied 26ZWMatters to be taken into account in relation to declaration 26ZXMatters relevant to determination of conditions 26ZYPreparation of discussion document 26ZZNotification of discussion document 26ZZAInspection of discussion document 26ZZBSubmissions on discussion document 26ZZCHearing of submissions 26ZZDSummary of submissions 26ZZERecommendation of Director-General 26ZZFIssue of notice 26ZZGRestrictions on access to controlled dog area 26ZZHDog control permits 26ZZIRequirements in relation to dog control permits 26ZZJPower to amend or revoke dog control permit 26ZZKPersons authorised to take dogs into controlled dog area without dog control permit 26ZZLSeizure and destruction of dogs 26ZZMDisposal of seized dog 26ZZNSupply of information in relation to ownership of dogs 26ZZORecovery of costs relating to dogs 26ZZPOffences 26ZZQDogs causing serious injury to protected wildlife 26ZZRPower of warranted officer to request information 26ZZSNo liability where dog wounded in attempt to destroy 26ZZTLimitation of liability for damage

Part 6:
Miscellaneous

27Covenants 27ANga Whenua Rahui kawenata 28Resources other than land 29Management agreements 30Taking of plants 31Removal of shingle, etc 32Lessees, etc, may be required to make contributions 33Receipts 34Annual reports 35Local authority contributions 36Trespassing livestock 37Production of permit, etc, on demand 38Hunting, etc 39Other offences in respect of conservation areas 40Powers of warranted officers 40APower to require information 41Offences in respect of warranted officers and fish and game rangers 42Protection of warranted officers and others 43Proceedings for offences 43AEvidence in proceedings 43BStrict liability 43CPenalties for certain offences 43DPenalties for offences committed for commercial gain or reward 44Penalties 44ASentence of community work 45Offenders liable for loss or damage 46Forfeiture of property 46AForfeiture of property for infringement offence 47Information leading to conviction 48Regulations 48AARegulations prescribing time limits for applications for concessions 48ASpecial regulations relating to freshwater fisheries 48BSpecial regulations relating to South Island freshwater fisheries 48CRegulations relating to infringement offences 49Public notice and rights of objection 50Changes of status of land to be noted 50AErrors of description in notices may be corrected 51Consent or approval may be conditional

Part 6A:
Infringement offences

51ARelationship with other offences

Infringement offences

Fisheries

51BTaking sports fish in contravention of Anglers Notice 51CTaking sports fish without licence 51DPossessing sports fish taken unlawfully 51EEstablishing, managing, or operating fish hatchery in breach of regulations 51FOffences relating to spawning fish 51GFailure to comply with restrictions on fishing 51HTransfer or release of live aquatic life 51IFishing in closed season 51JBuying or selling fish for purpose of sale contrary to Act 51KPossessing certain kinds of fish without approval 51LUsing hazardous substances, etc, to take or destroy fish

Control of dogs

51MOffences relating to controlled dog areas and open dog areas 51NDogs causing serious injury to protected wildlife

Conservation areas

51OHunting and other activities without, or not in compliance with, permit 51PDisposing of animal product 51QTaking plants 51RLittering 51SOther offences in respect of conservation areas

Miscellaneous infringement offences

51TManagement of marginal strips 51UFailure to produce permits, etc, on demand

Procedural matters

51VProceedings for infringement offences 51WWho may issue infringement notices 51XInfringement notices 51YReminder notices 51ZPayment of infringement fees 51ZAPenalties for infringement offences

Part 7:
Administration

52Director-General of Conservation 53Powers of Director-General 54Deputy Directors-General of Conservation 55Other officers and employees of Department 56Committees 57Delegation of powers by Minister 58Delegation of powers by Director-General 59Warranted officers 60Acquisition of land for administrative purposes 60APersons in respect of whose actions Director-General may recover costs, require royalties, etc 60BDirector-General may recover certain costs 60CIndirect applications 60DRoyalties, etc, may be required in certain circumstances 60EPayments 60FRecord of title in respect of conservation areas

Part 8:
Transitional, consequential amendments, and savings

61Certain former State forest land to become protected area on commencement of Act 62Certain land to be managed as if it is stewardship area 63Certain land may become protected area without public notification 64Existing leases, licences, etc 64AAgreed exchanges to proceed 64BPowers under forestry and Crown leases, etc, exercisable by Minister or Director-General 65Amendments and savings

Schedule 1AA:
Transitional, savings, and related provisions

Schedule 1:
Other enactments administered by Department

Schedule 2:
Enactments amended

Schedule 3:
Consequential amendments to regulations

Schedule 4:
Land that may be protected area

Conservation Act 1987

Preliminary

1: Short Title and commencement

You could also call this:

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

This Act is called the Conservation Act 1987. You can use this name when you talk about it. The Act started on 1 April 1987.

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This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM103615.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Conservation

Conservation Act 1987, or

"Protecting New Zealand's Special Places and Things"

2: Interpretation, or

"What special words mean in the Conservation Act 1987"

Part 1Preliminary

1Short Title and commencement

This Act may be cited as the Conservation Act 1987.
This Act shall come into force on 1 April 1987.