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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Reserves Act 1977

Administration

3: General purpose of this Act

You could also call this:

"This law helps protect New Zealand's special areas for you and the public to enjoy."

Illustration for Reserves Act 1977

The Reserves Act 1977 is managed by the Department of Conservation. You can think of the Department of Conservation like a team that helps take care of special areas in New Zealand. This team works to preserve and manage these areas for your benefit and enjoyment, and for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.

The Department of Conservation wants to protect areas with special features like wildlife, plants, and beautiful landscapes. They also want to make sure you can still access the coastline, lakes, and rivers, and that these areas are protected from unnecessary development.

The Department can take actions that are approved by the Minister, as long as these actions are consistent with the Reserves Act 1977 or other laws, and do not go against this Act, you can find more information about changes to this Act in the Conservation Act 1987.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM444451.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Town planningGovernment and voting > Government departments
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"What special words mean in the Reserves Act 1977"

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Part 1Administration

3General purpose of this Act

  1. It is hereby declared that, subject to the control of the Minister, this Act shall be administered in the Department of Conservation for the purpose of—

  2. providing, for the preservation and management for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, areas of New Zealand possessing—
    1. recreational use or potential, whether active or passive; or
      1. wildlife; or
        1. indigenous flora or fauna; or
          1. environmental and landscape amenity or interest; or
            1. natural, scenic, historic, cultural, archaeological, biological, geological, scientific, educational, community, or other special features or value:
            2. ensuring, as far as possible, the survival of all indigenous species of flora and fauna, both rare and commonplace, in their natural communities and habitats, and the preservation of representative samples of all classes of natural ecosystems and landscape which in the aggregate originally gave New Zealand its own recognisable character:
              1. ensuring, as far as possible, the preservation of access for the public to and along the sea coast, its bays and inlets and offshore islands, lakeshores, and riverbanks, and fostering and promoting the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment and of the margins of lakes and rivers and the protection of them from unnecessary subdivision and development.

                1. In the exercise of its administration of this Act, the Department may take any action approved or directed from time to time by the Minister so far as it is consistent with this Act or is provided for in any other Act and is not inconsistent with this Act.

                Notes
                • Section 3(1): amended, on , by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).