Written By:
- Date published:
12:06 pm, June 18th, 2026 - 21 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, Conservation, Environment, Shane Jones, winston peters -
Tags: forest and bird, Tama Potaka
This is a repost from Mountain Tui’s temporary publication home
Almost a year ago, I warned that the right wing NZ government was planning to exchange and/or dispose (“sell”) up to 67% of NZ’s conservation land.
To be clear, that’s almost 5 million hectares of our conservation land.
And all for the purposes of supposed “economic activity”; never mind that tourism and NZ’s clean, green image is one of the major drawcards and never mind, the precious ecosystems, fauna and flora, and wildlife existent in these areas – much of which is endangered.
But of course that’s moot for a government hell bent on emulating itself to the ideology and track record of America’s Trump and Australia’s Hanson. There’s a reason why Hanson is supported by Australia’s richest woman, mining magnate Gina Rinehart. It pays to be in their good books, as Hanson’s new private jet gift demonstrates.
Back to Aotearoa New Zealand, the government is pressing ahead on its plans.
As reported by RNZ this morning, more than 50% of all bills by this right wing Coalition have been pushed under urgency despite there being no valid reason for doing so.
In the case of the pay equity bill, Cabinet kept plans under wraps for over a year, and didn’t even bother with the Regulatory Impact Statement, pressing ahead within 2 days of public notification, and redacting all human rights impacts in the process. Yes that’s the type of government Kiwis find themselves with – but most don’t even realise.
Forest and Bird, who have been doing amazing, incredible mahi, has produced a series of maps showing the impact of the government’s plans on the country’s conservation estate. It looks like the number has been revised down to 60% of our conservation land, and that’s still a mammoth impact.
The “red” area shows the conservation land the government plans to open up to sale and exchange.
As the Parliamentary Commissioner said last year:
“This proposal would represent a major change to New Zealand conservation law.
Were it to go ahead, it would make around 5 million hectares of public conservation land – almost two thirds of the conservation estate – available for exchange and disposal. Many different types of conservation land would potentially be affected. Everything from local reserves covering one hundred hectares to conservation parks covering one hundred thousand hectares.
The vast majority of this land is of high ecological value.”
And today, the RNZ reports the Deerstalkers Association “worries the new revenue structure could create “perverse processes and outcomes” for DOC, where the cash-strapped department is conflicted by recommending land for sale while benefiting from the income.
National president Callum Sheridan said the organisation has many concerns about the bill.”
I always knew this government emulated American right wing politics, but framing it under the perverse notion of “economic stimulation” while having so many Kiwis buy into their cynical PR efforts is what we need to awaken from.
PS
These areas are some of those impacted:
One Hundred and Forty Two days to go to November 7th……..keep calm carry on spread the word….vote them out……vote them out…..
Including by the look of it the Molesworth and St James stations and large tracts of the Marlborough Sounds the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National parks.
Why? Because there is a price to pay for all the American money flowing into the COCs coffers. This has to be an election loser, or just more proof the bastards are only in it for the money.
Adrian, there is still a heck of an amount of public land left after the national parks are removed. Google AI tells me, "Marlborough has approximately 435,000 to 480,000 hectares of public conservation land outside of strictly defined National Parks. This equates to nearly 45% of the region's total landmass. This includes large forest parks, hundreds of scenic reserves, and extensive pastoral lease land managed by the DOC.
Because there are no National Parks located entirely within the Marlborough District, nearly all of the region's public land falls into this "outside national park" category. The breakdown of these public lands by key area includes:
This could be a huge election issue in the Kaikoura electorate. When Marlborough lost its ownership of its electricity generation 30 years ago, it was a major issue where the National gained fewer votes than Labour in the Marlborough section of the Kaikoura electorate.
Now, this new threat to ownership of and access to our land also threatens large public land areas in the Kaikoura and Hurunui areas as well- about 300,000 hectares in total, outside the Parks.
It must be noted, however, that the Conservation Amendment Bill formally exempts formally designated National Parks from sale or disposal, but these protected areas are still impacted by new rules that encourage economic development, allow international visitor access fees at iconic sites, and potentially open surrounding public conservation land for commercial use
https://vote.nz/
The nACTf CoC is 'govt' buy and for the sorted – wrecking NZ and selling it off for parts.
If I ruled Labour or Green policy I would make a single contiguous national park from one end of the South Island to the other.
Even national parks are up for grabs here though
Yes, open for economic development, allowing international visitor access fees at iconic sites, and potentially opening surrounding public conservation land for commercial use. Approximately 30-32% of the country's total land area is publicly owned and managed for conservation and biodiversity. This translates to more than 8.6 million hectares of public land.
Someone needs to remind them about Pike River.
If you took the Coalition back in time they would be arguing to introduce Rabbits, Opossums, Gorse, Privet , Deer, Ferrets, et cetera ad nauseam. Idiot Vandalism has been a feature of the Right Wing since civilisation began.
I'm surprised that all doc land isn't subject to return to Maori if it's not to remain in docs hands, this wouldn't be a bad thing imho
That's actually a pretty good idea.
We really need to remove this Coalition of Cockups.
Theft from the people is what this is. Among a host of other problems.
This is asking for a Microsoft account, is that known and intended?
Oooh, seems one has to go here https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/public-conservation-land-maps-show-risk-sale and click the obvious link
NZ land has always been for sale to foreigners.
The Overseas Investment Commission (as it was formerly known) was meant to regulate foreign buyers but really had an open door/shoo-in role; an applicant would only be refused in truly exceptional circumstances.
This latest effort by the CoC is another chapter in the same book.
Write to your MP in protest.
Indeed. And there was also the curates egg that was the Tenure Review process (interesting that Mark Mitchell was a Minister involved).
More than a few fortunes were made…at the expense of our NZ High country. IMO…a rort : (
Dr Ann Brower….so prescient. Sadly it was (and is?) too late : (
The best, (not easiest) and cheapest thing for NZ to do to maintain control and husbandry of NZ taonga; land and culture, is to force out the fat-purses and pretentious smartarses in power of politics or of financial transactions. Then make their positions personally dependent on a vote of selected people who understand what is needed to be maintained, and advanced or improved.
The rest of us look at these decision-makers and elect those for their real worth and background experience, where they were trained, under what economic and cultural banner. Our intensive scan would not be wasted looking at people who would strut the political and financial stage in company with media influencers, who are merely court jesters, (and they are a bad joke).
Our government is merely a procurement agency who we pay thinking to aid the nation but actually to advance themselves by selling off our nation's assets for which they receive commission and/or reward, kickbacks, payola, booty, choose your synonym.
Minister Tama Potaka (he of pushups,and also pushouts, of the homeless) is adamant ? And its just "bits and bobs" ?
Some great pushback by Green supporters of Forest and Bird…..and our NZ Conservation land !
Labour fronts the pushup/pushout man….
Chloe and Marama : )
Tama is now also the " bits and bobs " Minister. FFS.
Fight against NACT1.. fight hard.
Ditch the pricks '26 !
IN 1971 someone published The Muldoon Annual Joke Book, showing photos of PM Rob Muldoon with witty commentary attached.
One photo showed Muldoon at a rostrum signing a document, and looking pleased with himself. The accompanying text read:
"Stay in the bushes Keith [Holyoake]; I've just sold the South Island."
They never change.
One of my favourites was a photo of Muldoon admiring some lilies, with the caption:
or words to that effect.