Reserves Act 1977

Classification and management of reserves - Farming and other leases

74: Licences to occupy reserves temporarily

You could also call this:

"Temporary permission to use a reserve for a short time"

You can get a licence to use a reserve for a short time. The Minister or the group in charge of the reserve decides the conditions and cost of the licence. They make these decisions based on the type of reserve.

You might get a licence to use a reserve for things like grazing animals or cutting down trees. The Minister or the group in charge of the reserve can grant a licence if they think it is necessary for managing the reserve. They must follow the rules in the Conservation Act 1987 for some reserves.

Before granting a licence, the group in charge of the reserve must tell the public about the proposal and consider any objections. However, this does not apply to all types of reserves. The Minister can also grant a concession to use a reserve, following the rules in Part 3B of the Conservation Act 1987.

A licence to use a reserve can last for up to 10 years. You can find more information about the rules for reserves in the Conservation Act 1987, which you can read on the New Zealand legislation website. The rules for concessions are also in Part 3B of the Conservation Act 1987, which you can read on the New Zealand legislation website.

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This page was last updated on 18 September 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM444799.

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Land useHousing and property > Land use

73: Leasing of recreation reserves for farming, grazing, afforestation, or other purposes, or

"Leasing recreation reserves for other uses, like farming or tree planting, with permission"

75: Afforestation by administering body, or

"Planting trees in a reserve by the person in charge"

Part 3Classification and management of reserves
Farming and other leases

74Licences to occupy reserves temporarily

Licences may be granted under subsection (2) for any purpose specified in that subsection, and the conditions thereof and the rents, royalties, and fees payable thereunder shall be fixed—
in the case of a government purpose reserve, by the Minister of the Crown (other than the Minister of Conservation) appointed to control and manage the reserve:
in the case of a government purpose reserve controlled by the Minister, by the Minister in accordance with the provisions of Part 3B of the Conservation Act 1987:
in the case of any other reserve except a nature reserve—
1. by the administering body where the reserve is vested in or controlled and managed by such a body:
2. by the Commissioner in any other case:

provided that a licence to occupy any historic, scenic, or scientific reserve, or any part thereof, shall not be granted without the consent of the Minister.

Where, in the opinion of the Minister or, as the case may be, the administering body or the Commissioner, it is necessary or desirable for the management of the reserve for the purpose for which it is classified, licences to occupy any recreation, historic, scenic, scientific, government purpose, or local purpose reserve, or any part of any such reserve, may be granted for the following purposes:
grazing, gardening, or other similar purposes:
cutting, felling, or removing timber or flax, or to win and remove timber or flax or to win and remove kauri gum.

Before granting any licence under subsection (2), the administering body or the Minister of the Crown (not being the Minister of Conservation), as the case may be, shall give public notice in accordance with section 119 specifying the licence proposed to be granted, and shall give full consideration in accordance with section 120 to all objections and submissions in relation to the proposal received pursuant to the said section 120.
Nothing in subsection (3) shall apply—
in the case of any government purpose reserve or local purposes reserve; or
in the case of any recreation, historic, scenic, or scientific reserve, where public notice of the proposal has been given under any other provision of this Act or where the reserve is vested in the Crown.

The Minister may, in respect of any reserve administered or controlled by him or her, grant a concession in accordance with the provisions of Part 3B of the Conservation Act 1987 as if the reserve were a conservation area; and that Act shall apply accordingly.
The duration of a licence under this section to occupy a reserve or any part thereof shall not exceed 10 years.

Compare

1953 No 69 s 29
1955 No 83 s 3
1971 No 25 s 245

Notes

Section 74(1): amended, on 27 December 1983, by section 9(1) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 43).
Section 74(1)(a): amended, on 1 July 1996, by section 13(1) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 3).
Section 74(1)(aa): inserted, on 1 July 1996, by section 13(2) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 3).
Section 74(3): amended, on 1 July 1996, by section 13(3) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 3).
Section 74(3): amended, on 27 December 1983, by section 9(2) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 43).
Section 74(3A): replaced, on 1 July 1996, by section 13(4) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 3).
Section 74(3B): inserted, on 1 July 1996, by section 13(5) of the Reserves Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 3).
Section 74(4): amended, on 20 April 2010, by section 4 of the Reserves Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 20).