Nine To Noon Worries about funding under new Conservation Reform Bill
May 13, 2026
Megan de Mizantos, president of Federated Mountain Clubs and advocate for recreational users and conservation, speaks about the proposed Conservation Reform Bill. She raises worries about concentrated ministerial power and reduced public input. She flags risks of land exchanges, loss of local control, and visitor charges being used for routine funding rather than extra conservation.
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Bill Introduces Visitor Charges And Land Disposal Changes
- The Conservation Reform Bill would allow visitor charges and loosen constraints on exchanging or disposing of conservation land.
- Minister Tama Potaka expects about $60 million a year for reinvestment into conservation, biodiversity, heritage sites, tracks, huts and visitor infrastructure.
Decision Making Power Moves To The Minister
- The bill shifts sign-off authority from the New Zealand Conservation Authority to the Minister for multiple policy documents.
- Megan de Mizantos warns this removes public input and concentrates power in a single ministerial office.
40 Percent Protected Doesn’t Eliminate Disposal Risk
- About 40% of conservation land would be excluded from disposal under the bill, leaving 60% subject to additional requirements.
- Megan says whether 60% is scaremongering, the worry is that any important public-access or high-value parcels could still be disposed of.