Tama Potaka. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has defended proposals which would give him sole decision-making powers over the conservation estate.
Plans are already underway to amend the Conservation Act to modernise land management and support a government priority to unleash economic growth on conservation land.
Now, the minister is also proposing changes that would give him sole decision-making powers over the conservation estate through a new National Conservation Policy Statement that critics say would strip away democratic process and prioritise commercial interests.
The poli-cy has only gone out for limited consultation at this stage, but would remove the decisionmaking authority of several statutory bodies.
Federated Mountain Clubs, which is on the current decision-making body the NZ Conservation Authority, has described the move as unprecedented and a fundamental shift in how conservation land is managed.
Potaka said under the current model, decision-making could take a lot of time and a pragmatic approach was needed.
"When we stand back and look at people who are applying to do things in their states and are sometimes waiting five, six, seven years to get a decision, that's completely unacceptable," he said. "We're cutting bureaucracy, streamlining back office processes and maintaining environmental protection."
He said many decisions also went to the minister already.
"There are two systems operating right now - the conservation policy and the national parks policy. One of them goes to the minister, the other one goes to the New Zealand Conservation Authority, and what we're saying is actually just have one system."
Potaka said he hoped to have the first reading in the next six months.
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