Options Development Group

In our latest episode we speak to an anonymous Conservation Board member who has leaked a very controversial set of draft recommendations from the Options Development Group. The Options Development Group was established in late 2020 to ensure the partial reviews of the general policies are guided by perspectives and insights from te ao Māori at a national level. Our anonymous source is now alleging that the group is working outside of their remit and that the process has largely been kept behind closed doors.

The implications for conservation land and native species are huge if the recommendations are “locked in” as described by the Conservation Board member. The Department of Conservation was invited to appear on the show but declined our offer citing “that the Options Development Group is working to provide recommendations to the Minister and it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to pre-empt what they come up with.”. We have since put in an OIA request for all the information DOC has relating to the Options Development Group.

Whilst DOC was unwilling to comment on the leaked document we have been able to verify it through a third party. We have also confirmed that the person we interviewed is a Conservation Board member. Below is our interview with the anonymous Conservation Board member (and a copy of the draft recommendations).

How did you find out about the Options Development Group? 

“Last year DOC announced that there would be a partial review of the General Policies focused on treaty obligations. A group would be formed to undertake this review. The public could submit on the process. However the Department received just a handful of submissions, for example most NGO’s in the conservation and recreation sectors did not submit. Contrast that against the Westland and Aoraki National Park Plan reviews where thousands of submissions were received.  

DOC chose not to publish the submissions online. 

Disappointingly the Options Development Group has no members of the public present, the meetings are not open to the public and DOC has refused to publish the meeting minutes on line even after receiving an OIA request. The group brings in a Te Ao to the table but does not reflect a diverse multi cultural society.”

What do you understand their role is? 

“The role of the Options Development Group is principally to look at section 4 obligations and Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities in the general policies (the statutory plan). Instead the group has focused on Conservation Law Reform. This was not the purpose of the group and they are working outside of their remit. “

Has DOC / the government been transparent in this process? 

“Unfortunately the process has been undertaken behind closed doors with the public excluded. Consultation has been extremely limited. It appears that the work completed by the group is ‘locked in’.”

Why do you believe DOC has been doing this entirely behind closed doors? 

“This approach looks at conservation law reform through a Te Ao Māori perspective. This is an important lens to review the reform through but doesn’t reflect who we are – a diverse multi cultural society. The Conservation Act does not speak to the Biodiversity crisis nor climate change. The work completed by the Options Development Group does not reflect the crisis we are currently in. These two issues need to shape conservation law reform and the process needs to be broadened to reflect the diverse society we live in.”

Is the conservation estate under threat? 

“Yes when we look at D.5 5. “Ensure Tangata Whenua access to and use of all species and resources managed within the conservation system, including within the context of permissions and concessions.” The options development group has highlighted that the management and use of resources within Public Conservation Land would be given to Māori to manage as they wish.

I would argue that currently we have one of the best systems for managing Public Conservation Land in the world.  The land is currently not owned by anyone rather it’s managed as a commons – where conservation is placed before human-centric needs. 

Collectively we have put 1/3rd of NZ aside to be protected for natures own sake (and ours) while we have developed the other two thirds. This process would see all Conservation Land reviewed. National Park status is likely to be removed in some cases. All decisions on the future of land including its resources would be made by Māori. 

Maori have wide economic interests with regards to Public Conservation Land. For example Ngāi Tahu have economic interests in gold mining, coal mining, logging, hydro and tourism. If the conservation law reform takes place as outlined in the Options Development Group paper we will undoubtably see widespread development of what was formerly Public Conservation Land. “

Are native species under threat? 

“Yes the options development group stated that we need to Revoke Crown ownership of indigenous species. The crown do not currently own indigenous species per sae rather they protect them under the wildlife act 1953. If you removed the crowns ability to protect these species then of course New Zealand’s wildlife may well be threatened. Both Māori and Pākehā have pretty awful environmental records. We need to work together to find ways of protecting our wildlife many of which are threatened with extinction rather than arguing over whether Māori or Pākehā own them. We need to move past seeing these species as a resource and rather see them as a national treasure (Taonga).”

Could this lead to increased commercial use of protected conservation land? 

“Much of New Zealand public conservation land lies within Ngāi Tahu’s boundary. Ngāi Tahu are a large corporation worth 1.7 billion with a poor environmental track record. For example Ngāti Waewae are advocating for the Denniston Plateau to be opened up for opencast coal mining. This is one of the largest coal reserves in New Zealand. The majority is public conservation land home to a number of threatened Taonga Species including Fern Bird and Great Spotted Kiwi. Ngāti Waewae ’s company Arahura Holdings LTD has purchased part of the plateau with plans for Bathurst Talley’s to use this as a spring board to open up the Plateau. The companies second share holder listed is Lisa Tumahai

Lisa is Ngāi Tahu’s chairperson and deputy chair person for the climate change commission.

If the departments decision making powers regarding Public Conservation Land are transferred it’s highly unlikely that in this case Ngāi Tahu would change course and focus on the protection of the Denniston Plateau, nor land as a whole. 

If the Options Development Group recommendations come into fruition we could see outcomes that are Catastrophic for our wildlife, landscape and people as a whole.”

What should we do?

“There is a great deal of support for conservation law reform. Let’s start again with a group that reflects our diverse multi cultural society, that considers many perspectives including a Te Ao Māori perspective. Let’s put climate change and biodiversity at the heart of the process. And let’s do it in full public view with everyone having the opportunity to have a say.”

The leaked Draft Recommendations.