Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says new investment in tourism infrastructure is part of a broader push to modernise New Zealand’s conservation system, but the Government’s proposed reforms are drawing growing criticism over fears of privatisation, over-development and weakening Treaty protections.
The Government has announced a $1 million investment to upgrade tracks and visitor infrastructure around Lake Tarawera and Lake Ōkataina, aimed at improving access and supporting regional tourism growth. The funding will go toward track maintenance, safety improvements and visitor facilities in one of the country’s most popular conservation and recreation areas.
Potaka says the investment reflects increasing pressure on public conservation land as international tourism rebounds and visitor numbers continue rising across Aotearoa.
The funding announcement comes alongside sweeping proposed reforms to conservation laws that the Government says are needed to cut bureaucracy, speed up decision-making and create new revenue streams to support conservation projects.
The reforms include proposals allowing greater use of international visitor charges and commercial concession fees, with ministers arguing the changes could raise around $60 million annually to reinvest into conservation infrastructure and biodiversity protection.
However, critics say the proposals risk shifting conservation priorities toward commercial tourism and opening public land to intensified private development.
Opposition parties and environmental groups have warned the reforms could dramatically expand commercial access across large areas of the conservation estate. Concerns have been raised that easier concession approvals and streamlined development processes could weaken environmental oversight and public protections.
The Government has rejected claims the reforms would allow the sale of conservation land, insisting safeguards remain in place through existing conservation legislation, environmental approvals and public ownership protections.
The proposals have also triggered alarm among iwi leaders, including Ngāi Tahu, who say changes to decision-making processes could undermine Treaty settlement arrangements and reduce iwi influence over conservation areas with deep cultural and whakapapa significance.
Māori groups argue conservation land management cannot be separated from Treaty obligations, customary relationships and co-governance arrangements developed through decades of settlement negotiations.
Potaka maintains Treaty responsibilities and iwi partnerships will remain protected under the reforms, saying Māori participation continues to be a core part of conservation management.
The debate highlights growing tension between economic development, tourism growth, environmental protection and indigenous rights as the Government pushes ahead with one of the biggest overhauls of conservation law in decades.
Public consultation and political scrutiny over the reforms are expected to intensify in coming months as iwi, environmental organisations and tourism operators prepare submissions on the proposed changes.
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