Recreation Aotearoa welcomes changes which could see barriers to young people participating in outdoor education on public conservation land significantly reduced.

The Conservation Amendment Bill, announced yesterday by Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka, includes proposals to exempt some low-impact activities from requiring a concession. “By exempting low-impact not-for-profit outdoor education activities from concession requirements, the government can help more young people experience and enjoy our special places,” said Recreation Aotearoa Chief Executive Sarah Murray.

“Under the current regime, not-for-profit outdoor education providers are required to hold a concession to take young people onto Department of Conservation (DOC) land to do activities like kayaking, tramping, and rock climbing. This expensive and lengthy process can take years to navigate and cost thousands of dollars that would be far better spent on getting kids outdoors.”

“At the moment, outdoor education providers are subject to the same processes and costs as large businesses operating on conservation land. This places a huge burden on small, not-for-profit outdoor providers, who often rely on donations and grants to keep running. These are the organisations that provide life-changing opportunities for our kids to get outdoors, connect with nature, and learn valuable life skills. We know participating in outdoor recreation provides measurable physical and mental health benefits," said Murray.

The bill also proposes access charging for access to conservation land. Recreation Aotearoa opposes any move which would create barriers or reduce New Zealanders’ ability to use and enjoy DOC land.

Murray says, “While we note the current proposal limits charging to international visitors, we urge the government to fully optimise existing revenue mechanisms, such as the International Visitor Levy, car-parking charges, and facility fees, before opening the door to broader access charging”.

The bill will be accompanied by a new National Conservation Policy Statement, which will be developed in parallel. “It is critical that recreation and the rights of New Zealanders to access and enjoy recreation opportunities on conservation land are front and centre in the National Conservation Policy Statement, says Murray.

Recreation Aotearoa strongly opposes new proposals to sell or exchange conservation land and warns of the impact this could have on recreation and biodiversity values, both of which are highly valued by its members.

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