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Conservation Act 1987

Specially protected areas

20: Wilderness areas

You could also call this:

"Rules to protect special natural areas called wilderness areas"

If you are in a wilderness area, some rules apply to you. The area's natural resources must be preserved. You cannot build anything or use machinery in the area. You also cannot take livestock, vehicles, or motorised vessels into the area. Helicopters and other motorised aircraft cannot land or take off in the area either. You cannot make roads, tracks, or trails in the area. The Minister can allow something to happen in the area if it follows the conservation management strategy or plan and the Minister thinks it is necessary for preserving the area's natural resources. The Minister can also allow scientific tests or studies if they are necessary for preserving the area's natural resources. If someone's safety is at risk or there is an emergency, you can do something to help, even if it means breaking one of the rules.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM104684.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationArts and culture > Heritage protection
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"Protecting special environments"

Part 4Specially protected areas

20Wilderness areas

  1. Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the following provisions apply to every wilderness area:

  2. its indigenous natural resources shall be preserved:
    1. no building or machinery shall be erected on it:
      1. no building, machinery, or apparatus shall be constructed or maintained on it:
        1. no livestock, vehicles, or motorised vessels (including hovercraft and jet boats) shall be allowed to be taken into or used in it and no helicopter or other motorised aircraft shall land or take off or hover for the purpose of embarking or disembarking passengers or goods in it:
          1. no roads, tracks, or trails shall be constructed on it.

            1. If—

            2. the doing of anything on a wilderness area is in conformity with the conservation management strategy or conservation management plan for the area; and
              1. the Minister is satisfied that its doing is desirable or necessary for the preservation of the area's indigenous natural resources,—
                  1. the Minister may authorise it.

                1. If satisfied that the undertaking of any scientific test or study in a wilderness area is necessary or desirable for the preservation of indigenous natural resources, the Minister may authorise it.

                2. Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the doing of any thing for any person's protection, or because of some emergency involving any person's property.

                Notes
                • Section 20(1)(d): substituted, on , by section 8(1) of the Conservation Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 108).
                • Section 20(2)(a): amended, on , by section 14 of the Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31).
                • Section 20(3): substituted, on , by section 8(2) of the Conservation Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 108).