Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 C. 13 Department of Conservation Annual Report FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2001 Presented to the House of Representatives pursuant to Section 39 of the Public Finance Act 1989 Cover photo: ‘Trevor’, one of 62 kakapo left in the world, photographed on Maud Island eating poroporo berries Photographer: Rob Suisted 1 C. 13 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 Hon Sandra Lee Minister of Conservation I present the Department of Conservation’s annual report for the year ended 30 June 2001. Hugh Logan Director-General 2 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 C. 13 CONTENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR ............................................................ 5 ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ............................. 8 CONTRIBUTION TO KEY GOVERNMENT GOALS ........................... 10 STATEMENT OF INTENT .................................................................. 12 KEY STEP 1: Expand biodiversity effort................................... 13 KEY STEP 2: Minimise biosecurity risks .................................. 22 KEY STEP 3: Increase emphasis on historic and cultural values ............................................. 26 KEY STEP 4: Promote appropriate recreation and increased public enjoyment of protected areas ................. 29 KEY STEP 5: Engage the community in conservation ............. 33 KEY STEP 6: Promote effective partnerships with tangata whenua .................................................. 40 KEY STEP 7: Improve our capability........................................ 44 STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY................................................... 59 REPORT OF THE AUDIT OFFICE ..................................................... 60 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND SERVICE PERFORMANCE ..... 63 VOTE: CONSERVATION 1 Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing .................................. 64 2 Implementation of Legal Protection ........................................ 73 3 Statutory Planning and Coastal Responsibilities Under the Resource Management Act 1991 .......................... 78 4 Management Services: Conservation Estate .......................... 82 5 Management Services: Protected Species and Island Habitats................................................................. 93 6 Management of Statutory Actions, Leases, Licences and other Concessions ......................................... 103 7 Provision of Recreation Opportunities: Access, Facilities and Services .......................................................... 109 8 Management of Visitor and Public Information Services ...... 118 9 Conservation Management Strategies and Servicing of Statutory Bodies................................................ 122 VOTE: BIOSECURITY 7 Policy Advice ........................................................................ 126 8 Crown Pest/Weed Exacerbator Costs .................................. 128 9 Indigenous Forest Biosecurity Protection ............................. 130 10 Specific Disease and Pest Responses ................................. 132 3 C. 13 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .............................................................. 135 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ......................................................... 159 Summary of Output Class Expenditure by Output for Year Ended 30 June 2001 ............................................... 160 Expenditure for the Year Ended 30 June 2001 by Conservancy .................................................................... 162 Permanent Full Time Staff Equivalent Numbers for the Last Four Years.......................................................... 162 Performance of Reserve Boards ................................................ 163 4 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 C. 13 AN OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR This past year began with the Government’s announcement in June 2000 of an extra $187 million for biodiversity protection over the five years between 2000 and 2005. As one of the agencies responsible for biodiversity protection, the Department received an additional $12 million in 2000/01 including more than $2 million to assist protection of conservation values on private land. This substantial new funding has allowed the Department to make headway on many ‘if only’ projects. Complementing this, special ‘Green Package’ funding of $2.5 million enabled the Department to greatly expand its community awareness and conservation education initiatives. The results have been very encouraging. Significant species protection work made possible by the biodiversity package included the establishment of five kiwi sanctuaries, the commencement of the largest island restoration project in the world (on the 11,300 ha sub-Antarctic Campbell Island), and expanded weed and animal pest control. New projects to manage threatened native species were begun, and several marine reserve proposals were progressed. Landowner willingness to protect conservation areas on private land was reflected in increased interest in the Nature Heritage Fund and Nga Whenua Rahui. Community willingness to become involved in biodiversity protection projects was extremely heartening. Other highlights this year included the announcement of Rakiura National Park, New Zealand’s 14th, and the announced transfer of 130,000 ha of ecologically important forests from Timberlands West Coast to the Department. Some 35,000 ha of additional high-value high country tussock grasslands are now also protected by the Department, a result of many years of tenure review negotiations. Restoration and maintenance of historic heritage assets continued throughout the country, and included work at sites of importance to both Màori and Pakeha: the ongoing restoration of Auckland’s Fort Takapuna, a system of tracks and interpretative signs at Huriawa Pa north of Dunedin, and restoration work at several Otago goldfields sites. A five year programme of inspections and upgrades of visitor structures such as bridges, boardwalks and jetties was concluded, and most tracks and huts have now received baseline inspections in readiness for maintenance or replacement over the next three years. The centennial of Egmont National Park in October 2000 was marked at official openings of renovated visitor centres at North Egmont and Dawson Falls. Over the coming year the Department will continue to build on the progress made implementing the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, and its management of recreational and historic resources. In this the 5 C. 13 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 Department will be guided by the priorities and goals of its new Statement of Intent, the major strategic milestone of last year, which spans the years 2001–2004. Hugh Logan Director-General 6 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 C. 13 7 C. 13 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01 ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Statutory Mandate The Department of Conservation is the leading central government agency responsible for the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. Its legislative mandate is the Conservation Act 1987 and other key statutes such as the National Parks Act and Reserves Act.1 Like other government departments, the Department of Conservation has the responsibility to advise Ministers and the Government and to implement government policy. The Department’s key functions as set out in the Conservation Act are: • to manage land and other natural and historic resources; • to preserve as far as practicable all indigenous freshwater fisheries, protect recreational fisheries and freshwater habitats; • to advocate conservation of natural and historic resources; • to promote the benefits of conservation of natural and historic resources (including those of Antarctica) here and on the international stage; • to provide conservation information; and • to foster recreation and allow tourism, to the extent that use is not inconsistent with the conservation of any natural or historic resource. The Department has a particular responsibility under section 4 of the Conservation Act to interpret and administer the Act so as to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. This involves building and supporting effective conservation partnerships with tangata whenua at the local level. The Department also contributes to the conservation and sustainable management of natural and historic heritage in areas for which it is not directly responsible. It does this through its roles under other statutes including the Resource Management Act 1991, the Fisheries Acts 1983 and 1996, the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1997 and the Crown Pastoral Lands Act 1998. Conservation management and the work of the Department are characterised by a high level of public input. Conservation is based on societal support, and on the concept that conservation land is the common heritage of all New Zealanders. As such, conservation land is public land. These principles are inherent in all conservation legislation. This legislation also establishes a hierarchy of conservation boards and the New Zealand Conservation Authority, an independent body appointed by the Minister. The Authority has powers to approve formal management plans to guide the Department, and also serves to advise the Minister. 1 The legislation determining the Department’s mandate is listed in the First Schedule to the Conservation Act 1987. 8 Department of Conservation Annual Report 2000/01