The Government has retreated on one of the most controversial parts of its Conservation Amendment Bill, removing proposed powers that would have allowed the disposal or exchange of public conservation land following widespread public opposition.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced the change after meeting with environmental organisations including Forest & Bird and the Environmental Defence Society. The Government says it has listened to concerns and will strip the land disposal provisions from the Bill while keeping the rest of its proposed reforms.
The move follows weeks of criticism from conservation groups, legal experts and opposition parties, who argued the legislation risked opening the door to the sale or exchange of protected public land.
While the Government says the Bill is intended to modernise conservation laws and improve how the Department of Conservation manages public land, opponents argue other parts of the legislation still prioritise economic development over environmental protection.
The Green Party says removing one provision is not enough.
The party has pledged that if it returns to government it will scrap the National-led Government’s Conservation Amendment Bill entirely and begin a new review centred on protecting biodiversity, wildlife and public conservation land for future generations.
The Greens argue the current Bill weakens long-standing environmental protections by expanding ministerial powers, reducing public oversight and placing greater emphasis on economic opportunities across conservation land.
Environmental organisations have welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon the land disposal proposals but continue to urge significant changes to the remaining legislation before it becomes law. Public submissions on the Bill remain open until early July.
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