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Work has started on a review of stewardship land in the western South Island.
Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allen and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai along with members of the national panel were today welcomed on to Arahura Marae near Hokitika.
Department of Conservation operations director Karl Beckert says the department values Ngāi Tahu’s participation and advice.
Mana whenua panel are being appointed to work alongside the national panel, which will carry out technical assessments of the conservation and cultural values of stewardship land areas before making revised land classification recommendations to the Minister.
The process is expected to take about eight months for each region.
Mana whenua panel chair Francois Tumahai says stewardship land makes up a large percentage of the Ngāi Tahu takiwā.
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