CMS CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Wellington 2019, Volume I Cover: McKinnon Hut, 2012. This is a standard six-bunk hut in Ruahine Forest Park. Photographer: Jonathan Astin © Jonathan Astin
© January 2019, New Zealand Department of Conservation
ISBN Online - 978-1-98-851481-9 ISBN Print - 978-1-98-851482-6
Crown copyright © 2019
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to the Crown and abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Please note that no departmental or governmental emblem, logo or Coat of Arms may be used in any way which infringes any provision of the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981. Attribution to the Crown should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo or Coat of Arms. Use the wording ‘Department of Conservation’ in your attribution, not the Department of Conservation logo.
This publication is printed on paper pulp sourced from sustainably grown and managed forests, using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching and printed with 100 percent vegetable-based inks.
This conservation management strategy is made up of three volumes: Volume I, Volume II Appendices and Volume III Maps. All volumes are online at www.doc.govt.nz/wellingtoncms. Contents
Long-term vision for the Wellington region 5 3. National and regional objectives, policies and milestones 26 3.1 Natural values 28 Whakataukī 6 3.2 Historic values 34 3.3 Recreation 38 He kupu whakataki 7 3.4 Engagement 44 3.5 Regional milestones 48 Foreword 7 4. Regional policy requirements for the Wellington region 51 4.1 Regional general 51 Introduction 9 4.2 Aircraft 53 4.4 Commercial filming and photography and sporting The Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 10 and other competitive events 56 Purpose of conservation management strategies 11 4.5 Fishing and game bird hunting 57 Relationship to legislation and other statutory documents 11 4.6 Fixed anchors 58 4.7 Grazing and farming 59 Relationship to Statement of Intent and business planning 12 4.8 Marine mammal viewing 59 CMS structure and interpretation 14 4.9 Mining 60 Part One – Region 16 4.10 Private accommodation 60 4.11 Sand and shingle extraction 62 1. Wellington region overview 16 4.12 Structures, utilities and facilities 62 4.13 Vehicles and other means of transport 63 2. Treaty of Waitangi relationships 19 2.1 Treaty settlements (as at CMS approval) 20 4.14 Animals 65 2.3 Objectives and policies 24 4.15 Wild and game animals 68 4.16 Authorisation tables 69
Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 3 Part Two – Places 78
5. Central Spine Place 79 9. Islands Place 123 5.1 Description 80 9.1 Description 124 5.2 Outcome 80 9.2 Outcome 125 5.3 Policies 82 9.3 Policies 128 5.4 Milestones 91 9.4 Milestones 134 6. Manawatū-Rangitikei Place 93 10. Wellington-Kāpiti Place 135 6.1 Description 94 10.1 Description 136 6.2 Outcome 95 10.2 Outcome 137 6.3 Policies 96 10.3 Policies 138 6.4 Milestones 101 10.4 Milestones 142 7. Wairarapa Place 103 11. Coastal and Marine Place 143 7.1 Description 104 11.1 Description 144 7.2 Outcome 105 11.1 Outcome 145 7.3 Policies 107 11.3 Policies 147 7.4 Milestones 112 11.4 Milestones 154
8. Coastal Dunes Place 113 Part Three - Implementation, monitoring and reporting 155 8.1 Description 114 8.2 Outcome 114 Glossary 157 8.3 Policies 115 8.4 Milestones 121 Index 168
Photography credits and copyright 171
4 Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 Long-term vision for the Wellington region
The Wellington region has the best backyard in New Zealand. Conservation is in everyone’s interest.
Kāore he waahi tikanga, pērā i o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. He manawa reka tō te tiakitanga taiao mō tātou.
Cell reception. Photographer: Simeon W. Whakataukī
Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua
Care for the land, care for the people, go forward.
The most important things are place, people and facing towards the future.
He waka eke noa
A canoe which we are all in, with no exceptions.
We are all in this together.
Ma whero ma pango ka oti ai te mahi
With red and black, the work will be complete.
This refers to cooperation where if everyone does their part, the work will be complete. The colours refer to the traditional kōwhaiwhai patterns on the inside of a wharenui/meeting house.
At the Wellington Weed Swap 2009. Photographer: Sue Galbraith 6 Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 The Department will focus on taking a lead in working with others He kupu whakataki to achieve increased protection for indigenous biodiversity. It will be working with tangata whenua, statutory agencies, regional and local Foreword authorities, businesses, schools, other land managers and the wider E te tī, e te tā, e rarau, e rarau. Rarau mai ki te taumata kōrero nei o Te community to achieve the conservation outcomes in this CMS. Papa Atawhai. E hia nei ngā whakaaro i kohia mai me te roa o te tukanga kohi whakaaro Greetings to the multitudes. We bring you this important document. i te tūmatanui kia puta ai tēnei Rautaki Whakahaere Whāomoomo. Ka mihi i tā taua hunga tuku whakaaro mai, i tō taua hunga hīkaka mai, ā, Ko ngā kaupapa matua o roto i tēnei Rautaki Whakahaere Whāomoomo na konā i kitea ai e mātau te pae tawhiti o te whāomoomo ki roto i Te ko te pāhekoheko ki te tangata whenua me te hapori, te whakahoahoa ki Whanganui-a-Tara hai ngā tau tekau e tū mai nei, ki tua noa atu. ētahi atu ki te tiaki, ki te whakaora anō hoki i te rerenga rauropi Māori. This CMS has been developed through a lengthy public process and The major themes identified in this Conservation Management Strategy is the result of input from many. Their input, enthusiasm and active (CMS) are engagement with tangata whenua and the community, engagement is acknowledged and has helped to direct the future of partnering with others to deliver conservation and restoration of conservation in Wellington over the next ten years and beyond. indigenous biodiversity. I whakarewangia te Rautaki Whakahaere Whāomoomo i te 20 o ngā rā o Ko tā tēnei Rautaki Whakahaere Whāomoomo, he pāhekoheko i ngā Hānuere 2019. whakaarotau ā-motu, ā-rohe anō hoki, ā, he tautohu hoki i ngā whāinga e matenuitia ana ki ngā wāhi whakahirahira ki te tangata whenua me ngā This CMS became operative on 20 January 2019. hapori.
This CMS integrates national and local conservation priorities at Kerry Prendergast particular places and identifies desired outcomes for places that are Chair, New Zealand Conservation Authority special to tangata whenua and communities.
Ko tētahi aronga nui o tēnei Tari, ko te kōkiri me te mahi tahi me ētahi Jenny Rowan atu kia kaha ake ai te tiakina o te rerenga rauropi Māori. Ka mahi Chairperson, Wellington Conservation Board tahi tēnei Tari me te tangata whenua, ngā umanga ā-ture, ngā mana whakahaere ā-takiwā, ā-rohe anō hoki, ngā pakihi, ngā kura, ētahi Reg Kemper kaiwhakahaere whenua me te hapori whānui kia tutuki ai ngā putanga Director, Operations Lower North Island whāomoomo o roto i tēnei Rautaki Whakahaere Whāomoomo.
Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 Foreword 7
Introduction
Arbor Day – Planting Bee, Wellington-Kāpiti Place. Photographer: Elspeth McMillan Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 Introduction 9 The Wellington Conservation Management Strategy
The Wellington region (shown in Figure 5) contains a number of Conservation benefits all New Zealanders and, therefore, is of interest to distinctive features – forest parks, major rivers, lakes and wetlands, many. To meet the challenge of the long-term vision for the Wellington dunelands, a diverse marine environment and a rich cultural heritage region, the Department will need to continue to grow conservation by that is central to the region’s identity. The relationship people have with working with kaitiaki and other conservation partners. these resources affects the way they value, use and interact with public conservation lands and waters.
The Wellington Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) describes the conservation values and issues for the Wellington region and how
these will be managed by the Department of Conservation. Historic values
The CMS is also the community’s document. In carrying out its work, Natural values the Department is supported through long-established and newly Recreation evolving relationships and partnerships with Treaty partners, volunteers, epartment s Engagement unctions, community groups, private landowners, local authorities, businesses and vision or ellington usiness the public, many of whom contributed to the review of this CMS. (See and New ealand, gencies Appendix 19). Treaty partnerships Volunteers
This CMS recognises the important role that these kaitiaki and other ommunity
conservation partners play in the Wellington region, both on and off Treaty Partners public conservation lands and waters.1 Figure 1 outlines the partnership ocal authorities concept the CMS employs. At its core are the Department’s functions under the Conservation Act 1987, the vision for Wellington and New Private landowners Zealand, and Treaty partnerships. The core influences the work we do Figure 1: Partnership concept for the Wellington CMS to achieve the Department’s four intermediate outcomes. The outer ring reflects that some of this work will be delivered in partnership with others.
1 In this document, ‘conservation partners’ includes local authorities, private landowners, community groups and the public.
10 Introduction Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 Purpose of conservation management strategies Relationship to legislation and other statutory
The purpose of a CMS is to implement general policies, and to establish documents objectives for the integrated management of natural and historic The CMS is part of a suite of legislation and documents that provide resources – including species managed by the Department – and the planning framework for all conservation lands and waters in New for recreation, tourism, and other conservation purposes. Integrated Zealand (see Figure 2). The Department must administer and manage conservation management is described in the Conservation General the public conservation lands and waters in the Wellington CMS Policy 2005. region in accordance with this legislation and policy. These documents also guide the Department when it is advocating for the protection of Conservation, as defined in the Conservation Act 1987 (the Act), is conservation values beyond public conservation lands and waters. the ‘preservation and protection of natural and historic resources for the purpose of maintaining their intrinsic values, providing for their At the top of the hierarchy is the Conservation Act. The Conservation appreciation and recreational enjoyment by the public, and safeguarding General Policy 2005 is next, and below that are the conservation the options of future generations’. A CMS is not an operational plan management strategies and conservation management plans. Lower although it does provide direction as to how conservation values and level documents cannot be inconsistent with documents higher in the issues should be managed at an operational level. order.
In the Wellington region, there are 34 operative conservation management plans – most of which will be revoked or withdrawn2.
Other legislation in which the Minister of Conservation has a role, or that is relevant to this CMS, includes the Wildlife Act 1953; Marine Reserves Act 1971; Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, Protected Objects Act “ The CMS is 1975; Reserves Act 1977; Wild Animal Control Act 1977; Crown Minerals Act 1991; Electricity Act 1992; Walking Access Act 2008; Freedom the community's Camping Act 2011; Game Animal Council Act 2013; and Heritage New document.” Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014.
2 These plans are all reserve and Crown land management plans from the 1980s and are intended to be revoked or withdrawn after the approval of this CMS. The intent of the Conservation Amendment Act 1996 was that CMSs provide any required management detail for individual areas of public conservation lands and waters.
Wellington Conservation Management Strategy 2019-2029 Introduction 11 The approach taken in this CMS is to not restate the provisions of Relationship to Statement of Intent and business legislation or other documents; this CMS should be read in conjunction planning with legislation and other documents. Departmental policy documents can be found at www.doc.govt.nz and New Zealand legislation can be The strategic intentions of the Department are captured within the found at www.legislation.govt.nz. Statement of Intent3, which states this long-term vision:
Activities undertaken on public conservation lands and waters also need New Zealand is the greatest living space on Earth to comply with regional and district plans prepared under the Resource Kāore he wāhi i tua atu i a Aotearoa, hei wāhi noho i te ao Management Act 1991, unless an exemption has been granted pursuant To progress towards achieving this vision, the Department has four to section 4(3) of that Act. The Department is also bound by ‘good intermediate outcomes around which its work is organised. These are neighbour’ rules in regional pest management plans prepared under the shown in the Conservation outcomes model (Figure 3). Biosecurity Act 1993. Department of Conservation Statutory framework for managing public OUTCOMES MODEL conservation lands and waters A living Treaty partnership based on shared values for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand
National Par s onservation ct ct Provide conservation services and leadership to protect and Outcome enhance New Zealand’s natural Our and historic heritage purpose statement Vision
Contribute to To work with New Zealanders New Zealand General Policy General Policy New Zealand’s economic, social others to increase gain environmental, is the greatest and cultural success the value of social and economic living space conservation for benefits from on Earth New Zealanders healthy functioning Strategic roles Strategic ecosystems, Enhance well-being of Kāore he wāhi Kia piki te oranga from recreation New Zealanders and international i tua atu i a o te ao tūroa, i roto opportunities, visitors by encouraging and Aotearoa, hei onservation i te ngātahitanga, and from living enabling people to connect and ki Aotearoa our history wāhi noho i te ao management strategies contribute to New Zealand’s nature and heritage