CONFERENCE HANDBOOK

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Kindly supported by Rob Suisted This is a not-for-profit event www.naturespic.com

10-11 August 2016 Viaduct Events Centre, www.edsconference.com SPONSORS

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EVENT APP CONFERENCE DINNER

ESPRESSO CART AFTER SESSION DRINKS

PRE-CONFERENCE BRONZE SPONSORS WORKSHOP CONTENTS

Welcome 2

Programme at a Glance 3

Speaker & Chair Biographies (in session order) 6

Session 1: Wild Places Overview 6

Session 2: Value of Wild Places 7

Session 3: National Party Update 9

Session 4: Wild Places and Regional Economic Development 9

Session 5: Leaders’ Dialogue 10

Session 6: Breakfast Session 12

Session 7: Protected Landscapes (Category V) 12

Session 8: Wild Water 14

Session 9: Labour Party Update 15

Session 10: Green Party Update 16

Session 11: Foresight Workshop 16

Session 12: Wild Initiatives 16

Social Programme – After Session Drinks & Conference Dinner 18

General Information 19

Notes 20

1 WELCOME

Welcome to this year’s EDS conference, which is focused on how to better manage and protect our Wild Places. These define . They evoke powerful emotions that connect us to these islands with their outstanding scenery and unique biota. Wild Places include land, lakes and rivers, and the sea. They extend over conservation, Ma-ori and private land and make this country special for those who live here and those who visit. Over the next two days we will be exploring the connection between conservation and our largest export industry, tourism, and the role of wild New Zealand in the economic development of our regions. How can we develop powerful new synergies between our Wild Places and our economy, which both generates additional funds for conservation and boosts jobs and economic growth? There are growing pressures on our Wild Places, from a range of factors including increasing tourism numbers, agricultural intensification, urban growth and pests. We will be looking at innovative tools and approaches that will enable us to better manage these pressures and help generate funding for greater investment in nature. In particular, we will be looking at the challenges of managing our conservation land, our High Country and our ‘wet’ Wild Places: lakes, rivers and sea. We will be challenging politicians, from a range of political parties, to tell us what policies they are proposing to better manage our Wild Places. But we will also be asking you, our conference delegates, to provide ideas for a future vision, direction and actions. A Foresight Workshop scheduled Day Two of the conference will provide the opportunity for substantive input into mapping out a pathway forward. For those of you that are joining us for this dialogue, we acknowledge your expertise, wisdom and passion. We don’t have all the answers, but with your help we might just make 2016 a turning point for our Wild Places. On behalf of the EDS team, welcome to our 2016 conference.

Raewyn Peart

PROTECTING NEW ZEALAND’S HERITAGE

The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) is a professionally run, independent environmental group that was established in 1971. It brings together the disciplines of science, planning, landscape and the law. It operates as a think-tank, providing thought leadership on key environmental issues as well as representing the environment before councils and the courts. EDS is located at the collaboratve and business-aware end of the environmental movement, seeking constructive engagement with all sectors, to achieve good environmental and economic outcomes for all New Zealanders. It has influence. It also plays an education role, helping business, councils, community groups and iwi to better understand best practice resource management. EDS runs national and regional conferences and seminars on topical issues. EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible. www.eds.org.nz

2 PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE

CONFERENCE DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST

8.30am OPENING & MIHI WHAKATAU - Nga-ti Wha-tua Ora-kei Welcome: Raewyn Peart, Policy Director, Environmental Defence Society

9.00am SESSION 1: WILD PLACES OVERVIEW Chair: Vicky Robertson, Secretary for the Environment Virtual tour of New Zealand’s Wild Places, Rob Suisted, Photographer International keynote: Securing the future of Wild Places – global innovations, Peter Cochrane, Natural Heritage Director and Consultant, Sydney Protection of New Zealand’s Wild Places: A retrospective, Dr Gerry McSweeney, Founder, New Zealand’s Wilderness Lodges

10.30am MORNING TEA

11.00am SESSION 2: VALUE OF WILD PLACES Chair: Lou Sanson, Director-General, Department of Conservation The value of wild places to business, Christopher Luxon, Chief Executive Officer, (pre-recorded video) Who is visiting New Zealand and why, Andrew Fraser, Director of Marketing, Tourism New Zealand The value of wild places to Nga-i Tahu, Quinton Hall, Chief Executive, Nga-i Tahu Tourism Limited The value of nature to the national economy, Dr Girol Karacaoglu, Chief Economist, The Treasury Speaker panel discussion

12.40pm SESSION 3: POLITICAL ADDRESS Chair: Gary Taylor, Chairman, Environmental Defence Society Keynote: Hon Dr Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment

1.00pm LUNCH

2.00pm SESSION 4: WILD PLACES AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Chair: Jane Frances, Deputy Secretary Natural Resource Policy, Ministry for the Environment International keynote: Alternative models for funding nature conservation, Michael Looker, Director (Interim), New Zealand Program, The Nature Conservancy From coal to nature: The future of the West Coast, Tony Kokshoorn, Mayor, Grey District Council New Zealand’s Silicon Valley?: Innovation and our public conservation lands, Mick Abbott, Associate Professor, School of Landscape Architecture, Lincoln University Everyone’s wilderness - sustaining our public conservation lands under pressure, Peter Wilson, President, Federated Mountain Clubs Speaker Panel Discussion

4.00pm AFTERNOON TEA

3 PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE (continued)

4.30pm SESSION 5: LEADERS DIALOGUE Chair: Gary Taylor, Chairman, Environmental Defence Society Creating a new blueprint for hill country farming, Dan Steele, Farmer and Tourist Operator, Blue Duck Station Leaders Panel Scott Simpson, National MP for Coromandel; Chairperson, Local Government and Environment Select Committee Hon David Parker, Environment Spokesperson, Labour Party , Spokesperson for Environment, Primary Industries, and Land Information, Green Party Tracey Martin, Member of Parliament, New Zealand First George Ngatai, Ma-ori Party

6.00pm DRINKS AND POSTER SESSION – Sponsored by Fish & Game New Zealand

7.15pm CONFERENCE DINNER – Sponsored by Williams Land Limited MC: Tim Higham, Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum Award to winner of EDS University Environmental Essay Competition After dinner speaker: New Zealand’s Wild Places under the sea, Steve Hathaway, Underwater Cameraman

CONFERENCE DAY TWO: THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2016

7.00am SESSION 6: BREAKFAST SESSION Chair: Vaughan Payne, Chief Executive, Waikato Regional Council Eco-tourism in the Galapagos Islands: innovations and lessons for New Zealand, Julian Fitter, Environmental Consultant; Chair, Friends of Galapagos New Zealand

8.30am SESSION 7: PROTECTED LANDSCAPES (CATEGORY V) Chair: Rob Enright, Barrister High Country: The conservation challenge, Dr Susan Walker, Research Programme Leader, Landcare Research New approaches to managing development pressures: the Mackenzie Country Trust, Claire Barlow, Mayor, Mackenzie District Council Innovation in private land conservation, Mike Jebson, Chief Executive, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Panel Discussion Dr Marie Brown, Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Defence Society Lesley Immink, Chief Executive, Tourism Export Council Dr Gerry McSweeney, Founder, New Zealand’s Wilderness Lodges Mike Neilson, Owner and Operator Lake Ohau Lodge and Snow Fields Chris Roberts, Chief Executive, Tourism Industry Association

10.15am MORNING TEA

4 PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE (continued)

10.45am SESSION 8: WILD WATER Chair: Dame Anne Salmond, Distinguished Professor, University of Auckland Wild Place vignette: Hauraki Gulf, Raewyn Peart, Policy Director, Environmental Defence Society Protecting wild places – experience from the Pacific in going to scale in ocean conservation, Sue Miller-Taei, Executive Director, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, Conservation International The potential of customary management tools, Nathan Kennedy, Environment Officer, Nga-ti Whanaunga The potential of Water Conservation Orders: Our ‘wet’ National Parks, Greg Carlyon, Catalyst Group Speaker Panel Discussion

12.10pm SESSION 9: LABOUR UPDATE Chair: Raewyn Peart, Policy Director, Environmental Defence Society Andrew Little, Leader of the Labour Party

12.30pm LUNCH

1.15pm SESSION 10: GREEN PARTY UPDATE Chair: Dr Marie Brown, Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Defence Society James Shaw, Co-Leader, Green Party

1.35pm SESSION 11: FORESIGHT WORKSHOP Utopia for New Zealand’s Wild Places and how we get there Facilitator: Kaaren Goodall, Director, Blue Rocket Consulting Table-based workshopping (including a youth table) and report back

2.45pm AFTERNOON TEA

3.15pm SESSION 12: WILD INITIATIVES Chair: Madeleine Wright, Solicitor, Environment Defence Society Te Haerenga: A journey through sacred islands, James Brown, Chair, Nga-i Tai Ki Ta-maki The future of pest control, Dr Andrea Byrom, Director, New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Wild Mob: An innovative model for conservation management, Dr Derek Ball, Chief Executive Officer, Wild Mob Australia

4.15pm PULLING THE THREADS TOGETHER Dr Suzie Greenhalgh, Landcare Research

4.30pm CLOSE

5 SPEAKER & CHAIR BIOGRAPHIES

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST

8.30am | OPENING & MIHI WHAKATAU

Welcome: Raewyn Peart Policy Director, Environmental Defence Society Raewyn currently heads the Environmental Defence Society’s environmental think-tank and for the past decade Raewyn’s work has focused on landscape protection, coastal development and marine management in New Zealand. She has written numerous papers, research reports and guides on these issues. Raewyn was co-winner of the Resource Management Law Association Publication Award for Caring for Our Coast: An EDS Guide to Managing Coastal Development (2013). She has published a major book on coastal development titled Castles in the Sand: What’s Happening to the New Zealand Coast? (2009) and on marine mammal protection titled Dolphins of Aotearoa: Living with Dolphins in New Zealand (2013). The latter was shortlisted for the Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize.

9.00am | SESSION 1: WILD PLACES OVERVIEW

Chair: Vicky Robertson Chief Executive, Ministry for the Environment Vicky is the Secretary for the Environment, appointed in April 2015. An internationally experienced executive with a background in law and economics, Vicky is a champion for inclusive growth. Before her appointment at MfE, Vicky was a key member of the Treasury’s senior leadership team, where she held Deputy Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Secretary and Chief Executive positions. She has worked closely with senior Ministers and has been involved in significant interdepartmental strategic policy programmes. Vicky’s roles at the Treasury, and now at MfE, have placed her at the heart of some of the biggest policy issues of our time, including social inclusion, climate change and the environmental sustainability of key export industries. These are complex issues that involve diverse, competing interests, and can only be solved by collaboration and a willingness to innovate. This requires the public sector to be much more outward facing and open to new ideas. Vicky’s leadership experience extends to strategic organisational initiatives, such as the Treasury’s programme to develop stronger relationships with Ma-ori. Her professional accomplishments include a year’s secondment to the United Nations Development Programme, where she led a strategic and structural review of the organisation.

Virtual tour of New Zealand’s Wild Places Rob Suisted Photographer Rob has photographed 16 books so far, his last ‘Molesworth’ won a prestigious New Zealand book award. He has just had the honour of filming Country Calendar’s 50th anniversary book (due next month). He shoots for the likes of the New Zealand Geographic and Tourism New Zealand. Giving back to conservation is important to Rob, through photos and lectures, but also through investing profits into forest restoration. Previously Rob was the New Zealand National Marine Mammal Advisor and New Zealand Sea Lion Recovery Group Leader working on issues of by-kill, species recovery, tourism and strandings management. See Rob’s work at: blog.naturespic.com | www.naturespic.com.

6 International keynote: Securing the future of Wild Places – global innovations Peter Cochrane Natural Heritage Director and Consultant, Sydney, Australia Peter has over 20 years’ experience in senior executive leadership and governance roles in the public and private sectors. He now consults on environment and sustainability issues and is a Director of Ecotourism Australia, Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. Peter is a Visiting Fellow at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University. Peter chairs the Steering Committee for the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub and its Research Users Committee. He co-chaired the Bioregional Advisory Panel and was a member of the Expert Scientific Panel that conducted the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review in 2015. Peter was Director of National Parks and head of Parks Australia from 1999-2013.

Protection of New Zealand’s Wild Places: A retrospective Dr Gerry McSweeney Ecologist; Founder, New Zealand’s Wilderness Lodges Gerry has spent his life seeking protection for New Zealand’s wild places and showing how nature conservation benefits the economy and small communities. He was Park Naturalist at Arthurs Pass (1976-78) and Westland National Park (1978-83). As Conservation Director of Forest and Bird (1983-89), Gerry successfully championed the 2.7 million hectare South West New Zealand-Te Wa-hipounamu World Heritage Site established in 1990. He negotiated the Tasman Forestry Accord (1989) which developed into the NZ Forest Accord (1991). He was closely involved in the 1986 establishment of the Department of Conservation (DOC), representing Forest and Bird on the DOC Establishment Committee and in the division of crown wildlands between DOC and government corporations. Gerry was National President of Forest and Bird (2002-2005) and is currently a member of the NZ Conservation Authority (2011-2016). Since 1990, Gerry has been a founding member of the Nature Heritage Fund, the government’s conservation land purchasing agency, which from 1990 to 2015, protected 341,881 hectares, 1.3% of New Zealand, for $162.94 million ($476.60/ha). From 1989, Gerry and his wife Anne Saunders established and still own and operate New Zealand’s only two Wilderness Lodges. These eco-tourism businesses are at Lake Moeraki in the West Coast rainforests and Arthur’s Pass on their 1,700ha Canterbury high country farm and nature reserve. Gerry has a PhD in Ecology and Range Management from Lincoln University (1984).

11.00am | SESSION 2: VALUE OF WILD PLACES

Chair: Lou Sanson Director-General, Department of Conservation Lou was appointed as Director-General of the Department of Conservation in September 2013, after 11 years as Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand where he was responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand’s activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. During his time at Antarctica New Zealand, Lou oversaw the deepest ever multi-national sedimentary science drilling project in Antarctica and he led the development of Antarctica’s largest wind turbine project focussing on reducing fossil fuels at McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Prior to this Lou was Conservator for the Southland Conservancy in charge of Fiordland National Park and Stewart Island. He also led the establishment of Rakiura National Park, the sub-Antarctic World Heritage Area and one of the world’s largest island eradication projects and helped establish a network of marine reserves in Fiordland and Stewart Island. The Department of Conservation is responsible for managing 8.5 million hectares of public land (approximately 30% of New Zealand’s landmass) and 34 marine reserves. The Department manages over 14,000km of tracks and 970 huts. These places are used by 48% of New Zealanders (approximately 1.6 million people) and approximately 30% of overseas visitors (and many more view the iconic scenery from a distance).

7 The value of wild places to business Christopher Luxon Chief Executive Officer, Air New Zealand Christopher has been Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand since January 2013, having previously held the role of Group General Manager International Airline for almost two years. Prior to joining Air New Zealand, Christopher was President and Chief Executive Officer at Unilever Canada. This was one of several senior leadership roles he held during an 18-year career at the multi-national that saw him work in roles in Europe, North America and Asia/Pacific. Christopher has a Master of Commerce in Business Administration from the .

Who is visiting New Zealand and why Andrew Fraser Director of Marketing, Tourism New Zealand Andrew manages the most visible aspect of the 100% Pure New Zealand marketing campaign: the consumer marketing and advertising activity. This includes overseeing the creative development, planning, researching and implementation of the campaign and advertising activity across Tourism New Zealand’s key markets. Andrew is a seasoned senior marketing leader with over 20 years’ experience. He has developed and launched one of New Zealand’s most successful drink and youth brands in recent years, V Energy drink. Prior to joining Tourism New Zealand, Andrew ran his own strategic consultancy business in Auckland. He has held senior marketing and executive roles with Cadbury/Kraft and Frucor Beverages/Danone.

The value of wild places to Nga- i Tahu Quinton Hall Chief Executive/Kaihautu-, Nga-i Tahu Tourism Limited Nga-i Tahu Tourism is the iwi-owned company that operates many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic eco-tourism and adventure experiences. Nga-i Tahu Tourism is one of New Zealand’s largest tourism operators. Quinton took up the Chief Executive role in 2014, returning to his hometown of Christchurch - (Otautahi). Prior to this, Quinton was based in Auckland as Chief Operating Officer of Tourism Holdings Limited. Quinton’s extensive experience draws from both tourism development and the wider business community. He was formerly Chief Technology Officer at NZ Lotteries, where he started as Risk and Audit Manager. His executive- level expertise covers a range of areas, including visitor experience management, project management, human resources, asset management, group procurement and information technology. Quinton is truly passionate about the tourism sector and about Nga-i Tahu Tourism. The company has eight businesses, including experiences in Rotorua, Taupo-, Franz Josef, Hollyford Valley and Queenstown. It hosts one million visitors a year, employs around 350 staff, and delivers a uniquely New Zealand experience to its customers. Quinton’s focus for Nga-i Tahu Tourism is to continue to embrace its value of manaakitanga, connecting with people and the environment, and providing rich cultural experiences for now and generations to come.

The value of nature to the national economy Dr Girol Karacaoglu Chief Economist and Deputy Secretary – Macroeconomic, International and Economic Research, The Treasury Girol joined the Treasury in March 2012. His role is to provide strategic leadership on broad economic policy issues, in particular fiscal and monetary policy settings, and New Zealand’s international linkages. The Chief Economist role is critical to championing and lifting the quality and capability of the Treasury’s economic advice. Girol came to the Treasury from The Co-operative Bank, where he was Chief Executive for nine years. His previous roles include General Manager at Westpac New Zealand, Chief Economist at the National Bank of New Zealand, and lecturer in economics at Victoria University of Wellington. He has a PhD in Economics and an MBA, and is fluent in French and Turkish.

Speaker panel discussion

8 12.40pm | SESSION 3: POLITICAL ADDRESS

Chair: Gary Taylor Executive Director and Chairman, Environmental Defence Society Gary has extensive experience in corporate governance, having been the Chairman of the Auckland Area Health Board, the Climate Change and Business Centre (Australia) and the Peoples Centre Health Trust. He has been a director of Watercare Services Limited, Infrastructure Auckland, the Queen Elizabeth National Trust, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and the Hobsonville Land Company. He has also been a city and regional councillor. As well as being Executive Director of EDS, Gary is an experienced environmental policy analyst and consultant.

Keynote: Hon Dr Nick Smith Minister for the Environment Nick was born and brought up in North Canterbury in a bridge construction industry family. He subsequently completed a first-class honours degree in civil engineering and a PhD in landslides at Canterbury University. He was elected to the Rangiora District Council in 1986 and worked as a local government engineer. He won the Tasman seat in 1990 and 1993, and following the introduction of MMP, has retained the Nelson seat since 1996. Nick has been deeply involved in improving New Zealand’s management of the environment and natural resources. In 1998, he founded the Bluegreens as a group within National that wishes to advance policies that support economic prosperity and a clean, green New Zealand. National achievements in which Hon Smith has played a significant role include the creation of the Kahurangi and Rakiura National Parks, a number of marine reserves, the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the establishment of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and the Environment Protection Authority.

2.00pm | SESSION 4: WILD PLACES AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Chair: Jane Frances Deputy Secretary Natural Resources Policy, Ministry for the Environment Jane’s responsibilities include strategy development, advice and monitoring of New Zealand’s water resources and the resource management system. Jane’s experience is in leadership of teams that develop policy advice on medium term economic strategy, economic development policy, Ma-ori economic development, the natural resource sector, education, welfare, labour markets and regulatory quality. Jane’s most recent role was Director of Growth and Public Services at Treasury. She has also worked for the Office of the Retirement Commissioner, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Ministry of Commerce and the University of Waikato. Jane holds a Bachelor of Management Studies (Hons) in Economics from the University of Waikato.

International keynote: Alternative models for funding nature conservation Dr Michael Looker Interim Director, New Zealand Programme, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Michael has recently taken on the role as interim Director responsible for establishing TNC’s engagement in New Zealand. Prior to that he was the Director of Regional Strategies, Infrastructure, Asia Pacific and focussed on the implementation of TNC’s ‘Development by Design’ which helps to guide sustainable development decision-making. Appointed previously as Australia Programme Director in 2005, Michael led that programme to achieve remarkable results including the protection of 3.6 million hectares through 28 land acquisitions, and the establishment of a Corporate Conservation Council to forge a closer alliance between business and conservation. He has also developed close working relationships with Indigenous communities and organisations, supporting their aspirations in looking after their country. The Conservancy’s programme is currently supporting conservation efforts across more than 120 million hectares of Australia’s lands and waters. Prior to his role with TNC, Michael served as the Director of Trust for Nature where he spearheaded the organisation’s transition to a landscape-scale conservation approach and helped expand the role of major gift fundraising within Australia’s environmental sector. Under Michael’s leadership, the Trust acquired Ned’s Corner Station—the largest private conservation purchase in Victoria. Michael is a trained botanist and was previously a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Horticulture at the University of Melbourne, as well as Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.

9 From coal to nature: The future of the West Coast Tony Kokshoorn Mayor, Grey District Council Tony has been Grey District Mayor since 2004 and is involved in many community organisations. In a voluntary capacity, Tony has raised over $30 million for West Coast charities. He is a strong advocate for his community. After witnessing the impact of major industries like mining and forestry closing, Tony is proud of efforts that saw jobs created within the dairying, tourism and fishing industries as the West Coast diversifies to a sustainable economy. Tony is the author of The Golden Grey 500 page history book. The $60,000 profit was donated to the local heritage trust. He was the public and media face during the Pike River disaster. Tony was a finalist in the 2010 New Zealand Herald ‘New Zealander of the Year’ award and he was chosen jointly as the readers’ choice. He was voted 10th most trusted person in New Zealand in 2011 and most trusted politician in New Zealand in 2011 and 2014.

New Zealand’s Silicon Valley?: Innovation and our public conservation lands Dr Mick Abbott Co-Director, Lincoln University DesignLab As well as his role at DesignLab, Mick is Head of the University’s School of Landscape Architecture. Current and recent DesignLab project partners include Air New Zealand, Antarctica New Zealand, Conservation Volunteers New Zealand, Department of Conservation, Eden Project Cornwall, Fonterra, Museum of Chinese Gardens and Landscape Architecture, Nga-i Tahu Property, Rio Tinto, Te Ru-nanga o Nga-i Tahu, Te Ru-nanga o Koukoura-rata, and Tsinghua University Beijing, see www.designlab.ac.nz. Mick is also the current chair of the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board, co-founder of the Kiwi Ranger children’s programme, former chair of the Inspiring Stories Trust, and a regular columnist for NZ Wilderness Magazine. He is widely published and has co-edited a number of books on New Zealand landscapes including Beyond the Scene; Wild Heart; Making Our Place; and Looking forward to Heritage Landscapes. He has undertaken extensive research in protected areas in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia, with active collaborations in China, the UK and North America.

Everyone’s wilderness - sustaining our public conservation lands under pressure Peter Wilson President, Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand The Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand is a major NGO of 20,000 trampers and mountaineers. Peter is also a planner with the Otago Fish and Game Council and a trustee of the Mackenzie Conservation Trust and the Awakino skifield. He is a former Department of Conservation statutory planner, and has extensive first-hand experience of public conservation lands through tramping, mountaineering and skiing.

Speaker Panel Discussion

4.30pm | SESSION 5: LEADERS DIALOGUE

Chair: Gary Taylor, Chairman, Environmental Defence Society See bio on page 9

Creating a new blueprint for hill country farming Dan Steele Farmer and Tourist Operator, Blue Duck Station Dan is a farmer and conservationist living and working on Blue Duck Station – a 1460 hectare sheep and beef station and conservation project at Whakahoro, surrounded by Whanganui National Park. After working with his parents on the neighbouring Retaruke Station for seven years, Steele built Blue Duck Lodge in 2005, started Blue Duck Station in 2006 and founded the Wild Journeys commercial jet boats partnership in 2010. As a Nuffield Scholar, his research focused on ‘Brand New Zealand’ and included promoting community involvement with conservation to build the belief there is value in looking after our environment.

10 Leaders Panel Scott Simpson National MP for Coromandel Scott chairs Parliament’s Local Government and Environment Select Committee. The Committee is currently considering the government’s RMA reform legislation and has recently completed its work on the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill. Scott also chairs the National Party’s Bluegreen caucus group. He sits on the Lottery Grants Board as the Prime Minister’s representative. Scott has a law degree from the University of Auckland and is a Justice of the Peace. He had a successful business and commercial career before entering Parliament and was New Zealand CEO of the Make-A- Wish Foundation immediately prior to becoming an MP. Hon David Parker Environment Spokesperson, Labour Party David is currently Labour’s Shadow Attorney General, and spokesperson for Environment, Water, Entrepreneurship, Information and Communication Technology, State Owned Enterprises, and Regulatory Reform. Before entering Parliament, David had been a litigation and managing partner in Anderson Lloyd, and a co-founder of the Dunedin Community Law Centre. David is an experienced CEO and company director in a range of industries. Elected in 2002, he has held various Ministerial roles. David was the Listener’s environmentalist of the year in 2008 for his work as Minister of Energy and Climate Change pioneering New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme. As legislated, the ETS covered the six main greenhouse gases and all sectors of the economy. After inheriting a price on carbon of $20 per tonne, the current government undermined it by a 2 for 1 deal, a price ceiling but no floor, unlimited entry of cheap hot air units, and the exclusion of the 50% of emissions coming from agriculture. David has been fighting battles to protect fresh water for decades. He is a keen tramper and skier, and swims and fishes in our rivers and seas. Eugenie Sage Spokesperson for Environment, Primary Industries, Christchurch and Land Information, Green Party Eugenie is a Green MP and member of the Local Government and Environment select committee. Before entering Parliament in 2011, she was a regional councillor on Environment Canterbury from 2007 until April 2010 when Government removed elected councillors. Eugenie worked for Forest and Bird for 13 years and played a key role in the Society’s campaigns to protect West Coast forests and the South Island high country, and its RMA advocacy to protect indigenous biodiversity. She has degrees in law and history and a diploma in journalism. Tracey Martin MP, New Zealand First Tracey is a senior member of the New Zealand First caucus. In her second term of Parliament she holds the portfolios of Education, Women, IT, Communications and Broadcasting. For the 50th and 51st Parliament, Tracey has been the New Zealand First representative on the Education and Science Select Committee. Tracey was the New Zealand First representative for the Great Climate Voter Debate and she works closely with their Environment Spokesperson Denis O’Rourke on policy development. As one of the few MPs currently owning an electric vehicle, Tracey is a vocal advocate for central government policy and incentives to increase the supply and demand for these vehicles, as well as the charging infrastructure required to lower distance anxiety among consumers. Tracey has also previously presented on behalf of New Zealand First to the Energy Trusts of New Zealand Conference, sharing concerns around the disincentives affecting consumers that are being introduced. George Ngatai National Executive, Ma-ori Party Tena koutou katoa. George is part of the National Executive of the Ma-ori Party and is also the Director of the Whanau Ora Community Clinic which is a wrap-around service of 9 General Practice’s across Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Christchurch. George is also the Project Manager - for Manaaki Oranga Restorative Justice with Ora-kei Marae based in the Auckland District Court. He has governance experience through being a director for Counties Manukau District Health Board, a director for Transitioning Out Aotearoa, and a director for BDO Marketing and Business Solutions. George is Co-Chair of SAFVPN Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network and was nominated as a White Ribbon Ambassador in 2013. He is against violence towards women. George was responsible for the Auckland and Northland Campus of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, which represented nearly a third of all enrolments for the organisation. George has expertise working with families, youth and truancy, Māori and Pacific Islanders and also in the area of organisational management and fiscal accountabilities. George supports Arthritis New Zealand and Conservation Volunteers NZ.

11 DAY TWO: THURSDAY 11 AUGUST

7.00am | SESSION 6: BREAKFAST SESSION

Chair: Vaughan Payne Chief Executive, Waikato Regional Council Ko Mataatua me Tainui nga waka, ko Whakatohea me Nga-i Tai nga Iwi - Vaughan has spent most of his life in his tribal area of Opo-tiki, an area rich in marine, freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity. His formal training is in surveying, planning and business management. Vaughan has spent his working career in both the private and public sectors - across the upper North Island, and prior to his current role, he was the Chief Executive of Opo- tiki District Council. Vaughan is honoured to be working for an organisation that is charged with addressing significant challenges and opportunities for tangata whenua, industry and the general community. He recognises that the big issues facing the Waikato region, and New Zealand, are increasingly complex, requiring increasing levels of collaboration to agree on the necessary long term solutions. He therefore strongly believes that the three most important words in the Waikato Regional Council’s mission are ‘working with others’, because no one can be successful on their own.

Eco-tourism in the Galapagos Islands: innovations and lessons for New Zealand Julian Fitter Environmental Consultant; Chair, Friends of Galapagos New Zealand Julian is a conservationist, naturalist and writer with a special interest in island ecosystems. After 15 years in the Galapagos Islands, where he ran the first yacht charter business established there, he returned to the UK in 1979. He then became involved in the Falkland Islands, helping to set up Falklands Conservation of which he is now a Vice-President. In 1995, Julian helped set up the Galapagos Conservation Trust and served as its first chair. He is now one of the Trust’s Ambassadors. Julian has been living in New Zealand since 2005 and has written four books on New Zealand wildlife and one on Auckland walks. The second edition of his Galapagos Wildlife guide was published in 2015. He has a strong champion of, and advocate for, the protection of New Zealand’s unique native wildlife and ecosystems. He believes in the importance of involving the community, and of exploring economic opportunities, within conservation projects. Julian is chair of Friends of Galapagos New Zealand, and of the Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society, which works to restore coastal ecosystems in the Bay of Plenty, where he lives.

SESSION 7: PROTECTED LANDSCAPES (CATEGORY V)

Chair: Rob Enright Barrister Rob’s legal work focuses on public and environmental law. He represented the Environmental Defence Society in the King Salmon and Tukituki litigation, as well as in the EEZ applications made by Chatham Rock Phosphate and Trans-Tasman mining. Rob frequently appears in judicial reviews and represents infrastructure, public interest, mana whenua and private clients. Rob has appeared in a number of Court of Appeal, High Court and several Supreme Court matters.

High Country: The conservation challenge Dr Susan Walker Research Programme Leader, Landcare Research Susan is an ecologist and research programme leader based at Landcare Research in Dunedin with expertise in inland South Island ecosystems and in conservation outcome measurement and decision-making. Her research often touches the ecology-policy interface through conservation planning, land reform (South island High Country tenure review), land use change, and biodiversity offsetting. Susan’s 2009 paper ‘Why bartering biodiversity fails’ combines political and ecological science and is one of the offset literature’s most cited. Her interest in New Zealand’s bird fauna has expanded rapidly from initial enquiries into trends in production landscapes.

12 New approaches to managing development pressures: the Mackenzie Country Trust Claire Barlow Mayor, Mackenzie District Council Claire is the first female Mayor in the history of the Mackenzie District Council and was first elected in 2010, after being the Council Receptionist for 6 years. She won her second term with a convincing majority in 2013. Claire became a Kellogg Rural Leaders Scholar in 2012, has been a member of the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee for three years and is a strong advocate for the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. Claire is an observer, working party member and inaugural trustee of the newly formed Mackenzie Country Trust which aims to raise funds and find innovative solutions that will protect iconic landscape and biodiversity values in the Mackenzie and Omarama Basins, while recognising the need for local farmers to have viable sustainable businesses.

Innovation in private land conservation Mike Jebson Chief Executive, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Prior to taking on the role of CEO in 2013, Mike had various senior government leadership roles in the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry dealing with significant natural resource and sustainability challenges for the primary sectors including freshwater reform, domestic and international climate change policy and programmes, indigenous forestry policy, sustainable land management programmes and resource management reforms. The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust supports the permanent protection of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity, outstanding landscapes, cultural and historic heritage on private and Crown lease land through the establishment of open space covenants. These are the areas of New Zealand where there has been the biggest loss of indigenous biodiversity, so the critical importance of the protection of the ecosystems that remain, is out of all proportion to the size of areas already protected. Currently the National Trust is the perpetual Trustee for over 4,200 covenants protecting around 180,000 hectares of land including indigenous forests and forest remnants, wetlands, dune lands, tussock lands, native shrub and grass lands and sites of importance for landscape, historic, cultural or recreational importance.

Panel Discussion Dr Marie Brown Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Defence Society Marie specialises in biodiversity policy. She holds degrees in science and environmental law and a PhD from the University of Waikato that focussed on the use of ecological compensation under the Resource Management Act. Marie has worked in the fields of RMA compliance monitoring and natural environment policy and has a keen interest in effective environmental governance. Marie is the lead author of Vanishing Nature: facing New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis and the more recent Pathways to prosperity: safeguarding biodiversity in development. In 2016, her research focus areas are the environmental outcomes of the Resource Management Act and a new project on monitoring and enforcement of environmental law in New Zealand. Marie is a trustee of the Mackenzie Country Trust.

Lesley Immink Chief Executive, Tourism Export Council of New Zealand Lesley has over 30 years’ experience in tourism and hospitality including founding inbound tour company New Zealand Educational Tours in 1991 (sold in 2006). During that period the business won a number of tourism, environmental and sustainability awards. After selling the company, Lesley transitioned into teaching tourism and hospitality at the secondary and tertiary levels before taking up her current position in March 2011. Lesley and the Tourism Export Council are committed to protecting the environment and recently sponsored the Choose Clean Water Campaign.

Dr Gerry McSweeney Founder, New Zealand’s Wilderness Lodges See bio on page 7

13 Mike Neilson Owner and Operator, Lake Ohau Lodge and Ohau Snow Fields Economics has been Mike’s passion. He is a graduate in maths and has a master’s degree in economics and accountancy. After working for corporates and establishing computer businesses in Christchurch, he and his family moved to Lake Ohau and have owned and operated the Lodge and Ohau Snow Fields for over 25 years. Concern for retaining the natural landscape and bio-diversity of the Mackenzie country led to Mike’s involvement in the Mackenzie Forum and contribution to the Mackenzie Agreement business plan utilising a payments for eco services scheme.

Chris Roberts Chief Executive, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand Chris joined the Tourism Industry Association as Chief Executive in July 2014. As the only membership association representing all sectors of New Zealand’s $24 billion tourism industry, the Association works to influence, inform and align the industry, including driving forward implementation of the Tourism 2025 growth framework. Previously Chris was General Manager at Tourism New Zealand, with responsibility for government and stakeholder relations. He began his working life as a radio journalist. From senior editor roles at he moved to Parliament, which included working for the Minister of Tourism. His time in the Beehive was followed by a decade of senior corporate affairs roles in the energy sector before returning to tourism.

10.45am | SESSION 8: WILD WATER

Chair: Dame Anne Salmond Distinguished Professor in Ma-ori Studies and Anthropology, University of Auckland Dame Anne is a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences in the US, Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, and Foreign Member of the American Philosophical Society. As part of her scholarly work, Dame Anne has developed a strong interest in Enlightenment natural history and Ma-ori and Pacific philosophies relating to land and sea, bringing these together with aspects of cutting edge science to reflect upon environmental questions. Dame Anne has a long-standing practical interest in environmental projects. A former Deputy Chair of the Parks and Wilderness Trust in Auckland, she is Patron of the Whinray Kiwi Trust, the National Whale Museum, the Great Barrier Island Trust, and the Te Awaroa Foundation for rivers restoration. She is Chairperson of the Longbush Eco Trust and co-founder of the Longbush Ecosanctuary in Gisborne (www.longbushreserve.org).

Wild Place vignette: Hauraki Gulf Raewyn Peart Policy Director, Environmental Defence Society See bio on page 6

Protecting wild places – experience from the Pacific in going to scale in ocean conservation Sue Miller-Taei Executive Director, New Zealand and Pacific Islands and Ocean Programme, Conservation International (CI) Sue’s role involves overall supervision of the CI Pacific Islands and New Zealand team, providing expert marine input, acting as a regional strategy specialist and providing editorial review of the Loss and Damage report. Sue is currently based at the University of Auckland and she also leads CI’s investment in the Pacific Island Forum Leader’s Pacific Oceanscape. This is an initiative aimed at fostering integrated island and ocean management and a secure future for Pacific Island nations in the face of climate change. Sue is a part Samoan New Zealander who has lived and worked in Samoa, New Zealand and the wider Pacific region for more than 30 years. She has designed and led many Pacific Island conservation initiatives including those relating to marine species, invasive species and birds. Notably, she was one of the leads for large scale marine protected areas. She has also advocated on issues of climate change and the ocean, including maritime boundary concerns for sea level rise impact, ocean acidification, and loss and damage issues. Sue was the Pacific Islands Biodiversity Convention Adviser from 1994-2000 and has extensive knowledge of the Convention on Biological Diversity and international biodiveristy-related conventions and agreements.

14 The potential of customary management tools Nathan Kennedy Environment Officer, Nga-ti Whanaunga Nathan has been an iwi environment officer for nearly 20 years, and is a Treaty claims negotiator for Nga-ti Whanaunga. Nathan’s fields are the development and use of cultural environmental indicators, Ma-ori modes of planning and environmental management, and historic and contemporary mapping – specialising in the representation of traditional values and interests. He is currently the Marutuahu member on the Auckland Conservation Board, and is a writer for Seachange – Tai Timu Tai Pari.

The potential of Water Conservation Orders: Our ‘wet’ National Parks Greg Carlyon Director, The Catalyst Group Greg is a resource management specialist in a team of scientists, land managers and restoration guru’s. Greg is currently focusing on providing support to NGO’s and iwi in the water management and biodiversity space. He is driving the project to make New Zealand’s 16th water conservation order for the Ngaruroro River. He is also investigating what constitutes an outstanding water body, in order to assist regional councils and government agencies to address the NPS freshwater requirements in this respect. Greg worked for 10 years as a planner for the Department of Conservation. This included experience with early offsets in the settlement of the large hydro consent renewals located in the central North Island. He is also the author of the operative Tongariro National Park Management Plan. Through his years with regional government, Greg led the development of the One Plan, the first fully integrated second generation plan prepared within the Resource Management Act framework. This plan provided for national water conservation orders and the protection of terrestrial biodiversity. It also included the first serious attempt at nutrient limits tied to natural capital.

Speaker Panel Discussion

12.10am | SESSION 9: LABOUR UPDATE

Chair: Raewyn Peart Policy Director, Environmental Defence Society See bio on page 6

Andrew Little Leader of the Labour Party Andrew was elected to Parliament in 2011 and elected Leader of the Labour Party in 2014. He studied philosophy, law, and public policy at Victoria University. Andrew became National Secretary of the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union in 2000. As National Secretary he led negotiations with a number of major companies and developed a focus on high productivity work practices based on strong worker engagement. In 2009 he was elected President of the Labour Party. Since becoming a Member of Parliament, Andrew has held the ACC, Tourism, Justice and Labour portfolios, lobbying for a reversal of legal aid cuts, the introduction of corporate manslaughter laws to increase accountability in cases such as the Pike River disaster and the creation of a criminal cases review commission to review alleged miscarriages of justice. Since becoming Labour Leader, Andrew has focussed on the need for New Zealand to do more to grow our wealth and share it more fairly. His focus has been on backing business to create jobs and lift incomes.

15 1.15pm | SESSION 10: GREEN PARTY UPDATE

Chair: Dr Marie Brown Senior Policy Analyst, Environmental Defence Society See bio on page 13

James Shaw Co-Leader, Green Party James strongly believes that New Zealand can lead the world in transitioning to a high-value, clean-tech, post-carbon economy that works for everyone. He knows it’s a hugely ambitious, probably decades-long task, but it’s the reason he’s committed to a life in politics and one of the many reasons he joined the Green Party in 1990. Prior to becoming an MP, James had a successful career in management consulting, primarily in London, where he lived from 1998 to 2010. While there, he worked with large multinational companies across Europe and around the world, developing their sustainable business practices. It was while James was in the UK, studying for a Master’s degree in sustainable development and business leadership, that he realised that the private sector alone wasn’t able to affect change at the speed and scale necessary to meet the great challenges of our time. With that realisation also came a call to action, and James moved back to Wellington, the city where he was born and raised, with the aim of being elected to Parliament. James believes that, with vision and purpose, politicians can bring the large-scale, transformational change that is needed to build a truly inclusive economy and a healthier planet. It might be the biggest challenge of a generation, but James also sees it as the greatest opportunity: he wants New Zealand to lead the way and show the world how it’s done.

1.35pm | SESSION 11: FORESIGHT WORKSHOP

Utopia for New Zealand’s Wild Places and how we get there

Facilitator: Kaaren Goodall Director, Blue Rocket Consulting Kaaren is an experienced strategist and facilitator whose work involves communities and groups in rural areas, coastal settlements and urban centres. She works with stakeholder groups on their hopes for the future, the issues they face, and workable options for achieving a new future. Kaaren believes in the wisdom of diverse groups of people and their ability to find fresh solutions to complex issues. Working with Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari Kaaren instigated Listening Posts and roundtables up and down the coast and islands of the Hauraki Gulf. She has a well tuned ear for today’s issues for the Gulf, its communities, and people making a living from the water.

Table-based workshopping (including a youth table) and report back

3.15pm | SESSION 12: WILD INITIATIVES

Chair: Madeleine Wright Solicitor, Environmental Defence Society Madeleine holds an LLB and a BA majoring in Political Studies from the University of Otago and Charles University Prague. Prior to joining EDS, Madeleine worked in the resource management team at a major law firm. Madeleine manages EDS’s submissions and litigation programme. She also contributes content to EDS’s policy papers and community guides and presents at EDS’s community workshops.

16 Te Haerenga: A journey through sacred islands James Brown Nga-i Tai, Nga-ti Paoa, te Aitanga a Mate, te Ao Wera, Nga-ti Porou James is chairman of the Nga-i Tai ki Ta-maki Post Settlement Governance Entity, which is the iwi authority for Nga-i Tai ki Ta-maki and parent owner and operator of te Haerenga o Nga-i Tai ki Ta- maki, the hospitality, tourism and events brand of Nga-i Tai ki Ta-maki. James is a former member of the Department of Conservation Auckland Region Board (2015) and a retired Lecturer from the post graduate School of Environmental and Marine Sciences, Auckland University where he specialised in Ma-ori sustainable resource management. James is the donor of the te Haerenga brand and he also guides tours of the brand’s current products and services. The brand has established its presence on the iconic landscape features of Rangitoto and Motutapu since 1 October 2015 and has just completed the inaugural summer season of half and full day guided walks to each Island. Te Haerenga recently exhibited at this year’s TRENZ Conference in Rotorua for the first time and is committed and determined to succeed.

The future of pest control Dr Andrea Byrom Director, New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Andrea’s research interests lie in the ecology of multiple invasive mammal species in New Zealand, and their interactive effects on native flora and fauna, in tandem with other drivers of global change such as climate and land use change. She has worked on similar issues in Australia and Africa. Andrea is also an Associate Investigator in the Te Punaha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence, collaborating on projects looking at the role of citizen science in invasive species management, and the biodiversity outcomes of major pest control regimes in New Zealand.

Wild Mob: An innovative model for conservation management Dr Derek Ball Chief Executive Officer, Wild Mob Derek has worked in the fields of protected area, wildlife, and natural resource management for over 25 years. His management and research interests are diverse but include fire management, mangrove and other coastal ecosystem ecology, island management and coral reef ecology. He has worked in the public, private and NGO sectors and spends part of each year travelling through globally critical biodiversity hotspots and studying their management systems. Derek has a strong interest in developing and applying alternative models for conservation management interventions and in particular emergent opportunities in conservation entrepreneurship.

4.15pm | PULLING THE THREADS TOGETHER

Dr Suzie Greenhalgh Portfolio Leader for Supporting Business and Policy, Landcare Research Suzie leads two Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment research programmes: BEST – Building biodiversity into an ecosystem service-based approach for resource management and the Values, Monitoring and Outcomes for Freshwater Management. Some of Suzie’s current research involves the analysis, design and implementation of environmental and agricultural policy and policy processes (including collaborative processes), the development of market- based instruments for ecosystem services (particularly water quality, biodiversity and greenhouse gases), and developing frameworks to incorporate ecosystem services into decision-making. Suzie holds degrees in resource economics and agricultural and rural science (soils) from the US and Australia.

17 AFTER SESSION DRINKS

Wednesday 10 August, 6pm – 7.15pm, Rangitoto Room, Viaduct Events Centre Proudly sponsored by Fish and Game NZ

CONFERENCE DINNER

Wednesday 10 August, 7.15pm Proudly sponsored by Williams Land Award to winners of EDS University Environmental Essay Competition

After dinner speaker: New Zealand’s Wild Places under the sea Steve Hathaway Underwater Cameraman A long-time lover of the ocean, Steve left the trade he’d known for the previous 20 years (running his own construction business), to chase his dream of telling stories about the underwater world he loves. Since he started filming underwater professionally, in 2008, his footage has appeared on BBC, Discovery TV, National Geographic and TVNZ in numerous award-winning documentaries including the popular and timely documentary ‘Blackfish’. Steve’s passion to create stories to inspire kids to love our ocean culminated in producing ‘Young Ocean Explorers’ with his daughter Riley. In February 2015 they self-published their first book called ‘Young Ocean Explorers - Love Our Ocean’ and in August 2015 they gave a copy of the book and DVD to every school in New Zealand and the Cook Islands. They’ve filmed 20 episodes which have screened on the popular kids TV show ‘What Now’.

MC: Tim Higham Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum Tim was appointed inaugural Executive Officer of the Hauraki Gulf Forum in 2007. He has brought definition and momentum to the requirements of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 through the publication of guidance documents, state of the environment assessments, economic analysis and advocacy for integrated management and investment around the Hauraki Gulf/Ti-kapa Moana. Previously Tim has worked as a field ecologist, journalist and in communication roles for the United Nations Environment Programme, Antarctica New Zealand and the Department of Conservation. Tim holds a BSc Hons in Botany and a Post Grad Diploma in Journalism and has received several national awards for journalism.

18 GENERAL INFORMATION

REGISTRATION DESK The Registration Desk will be located in the foyer of the Rangitoto Room of the Viaduct Events Centre. It will be open at the following times: Wednesday 10 August 7.30am – 5.30pm Thursday 11 August 7.00am – 5.00pm

NAME BADGES We would ask that conference attendees wear their name badges at all times. We do recycle our name badge holders and will have boxes available at the end of the conference for you to place your name badges in.

INTERNET & EMAIL FACILITIES Complimentary wireless is available at the venue. Details on how to log on to this system are below: Connect to the wireless network: RFA Events This SSID is secure and requires access using WPA or WPA2 Personal When prompted for a wireless passphrase enter: eventswifi Open a web browser and enter the credentials: Username: freewifi Password: 54789632

CONFERENCE ORGANISERS Environmental Defence Society PO Box 91736 Victoria St West Auckland 1142 Telephone: +64 9 480 2565 Facsimile: +64 9 480 2564 E-mail: [email protected]

19 NOTES

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