Director-General of Conservation Lou Sanson today announced the appointment of 12 people who will provide advice and
recommendations on the partial reviews of the Conservation General Policy and the General Policy for National Parks.
The general policies set national direction for how the Department of Conservation (DOC)/Te Papa Atawhai and others with
conservation roles fulfil their responsibilities under conservation legislation.
Lou Sanson says the policies are being partially reviewed to make sure Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities are properly
reflected. “These appointments to the Options Development Group are an important part of that process.”
In June, Mr Sanson asked whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori organisations and Conservation Board Chairs to nominate people for the
Group, which will work with DOC officials on the partial reviews.
“I was pleased to receive such a large number of nominations of very experienced and capable candidates,” Mr Sanson
said.
As a collective, the members of the Options Development Group have expertise in tikanga and mātauranga taiao, a solid
understanding of conservation issues and practice, and experience applying the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi /
Treaty of Waitangi. The group members also have experience in policy development and analysis.
Of the 12 appointed members, 8 were nominated by whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations, and 4 were nominated by
Conservation Board Chairs. A further 3 officials from DOC will participate as ex-officio members of the Options
Development Group.
The Options Development Group is responsible for developing recommendations (or options) for changes to the general
policies. The ideas will then be tested with Treaty partners and stakeholders before the Group submits its report to the
Director-General.
There will be nationwide public consultation on any proposed changes to the general policies.
The Minister of Conservation is the decision-maker for the Conservation General Policy and the New Zealand Conservation
Authority (NZCA) is the decision-maker for the General Policy for National Parks. The Minister and the NZCA will
consider the proposals and the submissions received before approving the new general policies.
It is expected the partial reviews of the general policies will be completed by the middle of 2022.
The members of the Options Development Group are:
Te ao Māori representativesHoani LansburyTame MalcolmAroha MeadBeverley Nawarihi HughesGeorge RileyDr Valmaine TokiDion TuutaSteven Wilson
Conservation Board representativesMana CracknellVicky DombroskiNicole McCrossinDr Barry Wards
Ex officio DOC/Te Papa Atawhai representativesKaiwhakarite – Te Pae Whakatere (Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb)Principal Policy Advisor (Jeff Flavell)Strategic Operations Manager (Karl Beckert)