Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

National Parks Act 1980

National parks - Establishment, exclusion of land from, and definition of parks

14: Wilderness areas

You could also call this:

"The government can protect special untouched areas in national parks"

The Minister can set aside an area of a national park as a wilderness area. This decision is based on recommendations from the Authority, which follow a conservation management strategy or plan. The Minister can also undo this decision.

When an area is designated as a wilderness area, certain rules apply:

You must preserve the natural resources that belong there. You can't build or put up any machines in the area. You're not allowed to bring in or use any vehicles, motorised boats, or aircraft. This includes things like hovercraft and jet boats. Helicopters can't land or take off there either. You also can't make any roads, tracks, or trails in the area.

The Minister can allow someone to release native animals into the wilderness area if they used to live there before and if it fits with the conservation plans for the area.

The Minister can approve activities in the wilderness area if they follow the conservation plan and if the Minister thinks they're needed to protect the area's natural resources.

If it's important for protecting the natural resources, the Minister can also allow scientific tests or studies in the wilderness area.

These rules don't stop you from doing what you need to do to protect yourself or deal with an emergency involving your property.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

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=DLM37920.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
Previous

13: Permits for access to specially protected areas, or

"Rules for getting permission to visit special protected places in national parks"

Next

14A: Special provisions relating to wilderness areas under Reserves Act 1977 or Conservation Act 1987, or

"Rules for keeping wilderness areas within national parks"

Part 1National parks
Establishment, exclusion of land from, and definition of parks

14Wilderness areas

  1. The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority made in accordance with a conservation management strategy or management plan, by notice in the Gazette, set apart any area of a park as a wilderness area, and may in like manner revoke any such setting apart.

  2. Subject to this section, while any area is set apart as a wilderness area,—

  3. its indigenous natural resources shall be preserved:
    1. no building or machinery shall be erected on the area:
      1. no building, machinery, or apparatus shall be constructed or maintained on the area:
        1. no animals, vehicles, or motorised vessels (including hovercraft and jet boats) shall be allowed to be taken into or used in the area 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 a wilderness area:
          1. no roads, tracks, or trails shall be constructed in the area.

            1. The Minister may authorise any person to liberate any species of indigenous animal in a wilderness area where—

            2. the Minister is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence that the species was previously present in the area; and
              1. the proposed liberation is not inconsistent with any general policy statement, conservation management strategy, or management plan having effect in relation to the area.

                1. Subject to subsection (3), if—

                2. the doing of anything in a wilderness area is in conformity with the conservation management strategy or management plan for the area; and
                  1. the Minister is satisfied that its doing is necessary or desirable 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 (2) prevents the doing of anything necessary for any person's protection or because of some emergency involving any person's property.

                    Notes
                    • Section 14: replaced, on , by section 5(1) of the National Parks Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 112).