CMS CONSERVATioN MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Waikato 2014–2024, Volume I Operative 29 September 2014 CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY WAIKATO 2014–2024, Volume I Operative 29 September 2014 Cover image: Rider on the Timber Trail, Pureora Forest Park. Photo: DOC September 2014, New Zealand Department of Conservation ISBN 978-0-478-15021-6 (print) ISBN 978-0-478-15023-0 (online) This document is protected by copyright owned by the Department of Conservation on behalf of the Crown. Unless indicated otherwise for specific items or collections of content, this copyright material is licensed for re- use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the material, as long as you attribute it to the Department of Conservation and abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/nz/ This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. Contents Foreword 7 Introduction 8 Purpose of conservation management strategies 8 CMS structure 10 CMS term 10 Relationship with other Department of Conservation strategic documents and tools 10 Relationship with other planning processes 11 Legislative tools 12 Exemption from land use consents 12 Closure of areas 12 Bylaws and regulations 12 Conservation management plans 12 International obligations 13 Part One 14 1 The Department of Conservation in Waikato 14 2 Vision for Waikato—2064 14 2.1 Long-term vision for Waikato—2064 15 3 Distinctive features, values and issues in Waikato 16 3.1 Water—the life force of the region 17 3.2 Fragmented biodiversity 18 3.3 Nationally significant karst landscape 20 3.4 East and west—distinctly different coastal environments 21 3.5 Diverse communities—from the King Country to the Coromandel 23 3.6 Recreation and tourism opportunities at the cross roads 24 3.7 Interconnected and valued cultural and historic heritage 26 4 Treaty of Waitangi partnerships 27 4.1 Waikato-Tainui 27 4.2 Ngāti Maniapoto 28 4.3 Raukawa 29 4.4 Ngāti Korokī Kahukura 30 4.5 Pouakani 30 4.6 Hauraki Whānui 30 4.7 Tūwharetoa Iwi 31 4.8 Treaty of Waitangi objectives 31 5 Waikato by 2024 33 5.1 The diversity of our natural heritage is maintained and restored 33 5.2 History is protected and brought to life 38 5.3 More people participate in recreation 39 5.4 More people engage with conservation and value its benefits 42 5.5 Conservation gains from business partnerships 45 6 The Waikato River—Te Awa o Waikato 47 6.1 Waikato River Objectives 50 7 Hauraki Gulf Marine Park 51 7.1 Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Objectives 52 Part Two—Places 54 8 Hauraki Islands Place 55 8.1 Description 56 8.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Hauraki Islands Place 58 9 Hauraki–Coromandel Peninsula Place 64 9.1 Description 64 9.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Hauraki–Coromandel Peninsula Place 70 10 Hahei Coast and Marine Reserve Place 81 10.1 Description 81 10.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Hahei Coast and Marine Reserve Place 85 11 Firth of Thames/Tikapa Moana Wetland Place 93 11.1 Description 93 11.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Firth of Thames/Tikapa Moana Wetland Place 96 12 Freshwater Wetlands Place 100 12.1 Description 100 12.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Freshwater Wetlands Place 106 13 Karioi to Whareorino Place 114 13.1 Description 114 13.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Karioi to Whareorino Place 120 14 Waitomo Place 126 14.1 Description 126 14.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Waitomo Place 128 15 Pureora Place 133 15.1 Description 133 15.2 Outcome, policies and milestones for the Pureora Place 137 Part Three 146 16 Specific policy requirements for Waikato 146 16.1 General 146 16.2 Authorisations (General) 147 16.3 Vehicles 149 16.4 Animals 159 16.5 Private accommodation and related facilities 161 16.6 Marine mammals 163 16.7 Commercial eeling 164 16.8 Sports fish and game bird hunting 165 16.9 Mining 166 16.10 Sand and shingle extraction 167 16.11 Commercial filming and photography 167 16.12 Collection of material 168 16.13 Wild animal control activities 168 16.14 Fire management 170 16.15 Kauri dieback disease 170 16.16 Game animals (see also Wild Animals) 171 16.17 MILESTONES—OUTPUTS 171 Part Four 173 17 Implementation monitoring and reporting, and review 173 17.1 Introduction 173 Appendix 1 195 Work or activities of the Department of Conservation that may meet the requirements of Section 4(3) of the Resource Management Act 1991 for exemptions from land use consents 195 Appendix 2 208 Important ecosystems and habitats within Waikato 208 Appendix 3 212 Islands administered by the Department of Conservation in Waikato 212 Appendix 4 214 Priority ecosystems on public conservation lands and waters in Waikato identified by the Department of Conservation using its natural heritage prioritising processes in September 2013 214 Appendix 5 218 Threats or pests and wild animals present in Waikato 218 Appendix 6 228 Threatened and At Risk species present in Waikato 228 Appendix 7 233 Nationally iconic species in Waikato 233 Appendix 8 234 Marine habitats and ecosystems in Waikato 234 Appendix 9 239 Significant geological features, landforms and landscapes in Waikato 239 Appendix 10 247 Actively conserved historic places in Waikato on public conservation lands or waters managed by the Department 247 Appendix 11 250 Recreation destinations in Waikato 250 Appendix 12 253 Prescriptions for the management of visitor management zones 253 Appendix 13 256 Summary of the Memorandum of Understanding between Pouakani and the Minister of Conservation 256 Appendix 14 258 Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato—The Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River 258 Appendix 15 264 Private accommodation schedule 264 Appendix 16 265 Criteria for which the Firth of Thames, Kopuatai Peat Dome and Whangamarino Wetland were nominated as Wetlands of International Importance 265 Appendix 17 266 Statement of Values and Protection Principles for Pureora o Kahu 266 Index 267 List of tables Table 1: Islands within the Hauraki Islands Place and their 2011 island classification 55 Table 2: Key wetlands administered by the Department of Conservation in the Waikato, Waipa and Hauraki Districts 100 Table 3: Mountain bike, horse and motorised vehicle access within in Pureora Place 144 Table 4: Spectrum of aircraft encounters on public conservation lands and waters 156 Table 5: Locations in Waikato where activities under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977 are restricted 172 Foreword Foreword “He Tau Ariki te Tau, He Tau Whāngai te Tau” “Matariki’s Celestial Gift” Knowledge systems and balance in our world through the rhythm of seasons The major issues identified in this conservation management strategy are freshwater quality, responding to population growth and demographic change, and kauri dieback. To make improvements in freshwater quality the Department will be working with communities and stakeholders on priority ecosystem units, particularly freshwater wetlands, lakes and rivers and providing advice and input into integrated planning for the catchments of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. In responding to population growth and demographic change the Department will be targeting young people and Māori, and working with other agencies to respond to their recreation needs, with the aim of thereby also increasing understanding of, and engagement in, conservation in Waikato. A strategic milestone of this strategy is to prevent the further spread of kauri dieback disease in Waikato, focusing on the Coromandel Peninsula, the Hakarimata Range and Te Kauri Park Scenic Reserve, in collaboration with other agencies, iwi, local authorities and the community. This conservation management strategy has been developed through a lengthy public process and includes significant on-going contributions from tangata whenua and Waikato communities and others over many years. This enthusiastic input and active engagement is acknowledged, and it has resulted in this robust statement of the direction for conservation in Waikato for the next decade and beyond. This CMS became operative on 29 September 2014. Dr Warren Parker Chairman NZ Conservation Authority Mark Brough Chairman Waikato Conservation Board Nicola Douglas Director Conservation Partnerships Chris Jenkins Director Conservation Services Waikato Conservation Management Strategy 2014–2024 7 Introduction Introduction Purpose of conservation management strategies Conservation, as defined under section 2 of the Conservation Act 1987 (the Act), is the ‘preservation and protection of natural and historic resources for the purpose of maintaining their intrinsic values, providing for their appreciation and recreational enjoyment by the public, and safeguarding the options of future generations’. The functions of the Department of Conservation (the Department) are, for the most part, identified in section 6 of the Act and in other Acts listed in the First Schedule of the Act. The purpose of a conservation management strategy (CMS), as defined by section 17D of the Act, is to implement general policies (including the Conservation General Policy 2005), and to establish objectives for the integrated management of natural and historic resources, including species managed by the Department, and for recreation, tourism and other conservation purposes. The Act creates a hierarchy of documents to guide the Department in its management. The Act is at the top, the General Policy is next, and below that are the CMSs and conservation management plans. In Waikato (refer Map 1), there is one operative conservation management plan: the Coromandel Land Management Plan. This Management Plan will be superseded by this CMS and will be revoked when the CMS becomes operative. Other statutory management plans impacting on conservation in Waikato will be developed pursuant to Treaty settlement legislation (refer to the section below on conservation management plans).