Public Access Conservation Land
The Conservation Act 1987 and the National Parks Act 1980 provide a right of public access over land subject to these Acts.
Regardless of the type of land and the access allowed, users should always follow any local signage, look for guidance on government websites, or check with managing agencies for specific access conditions or closures.
Sometimes public access will be impractical, even if it exists legally.
The National Parks Act 1980
New Zealand has 13 national parks. Some activities are restricted or prohibited to protect natural and historical resources, and ensure visitor safety. These restrictions are listed in section 60 of the National Parks Act 1980 and include, but are not limited to, taking animals into a park, damaging plants or buildings, disturbing wildlife, and putting up buildings or signs. Management policies and plans (which are usually publicly available online) can include additional restrictions on things like using motor vehicles, bikes, and aircraft in a park.
Section 4 of the National Parks Act 1980 guarantees the public freedom of access to and within national parks.
The Conservation Act 1987
Land held under the Conservation Act 1987 is usually called a conservation area, or conservation land. Conservation land is usually publicly accessible, but there may be restrictions.
Conservation land is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Typically you can walk on conservation land, but there are some exceptions. DOC can provide advice on the management of specific areas.
The Conservation Act says what you can do on conservation land. You may need a permit for some activities, such as hunting on conservation land or taking a dog with you.
Restrictions are listed in section 39 of the Conservation Act 1987 and include, but are not limited to, taking animals into a conservation area, damaging plants or buildings, disturbing wildlife, and putting up buildings or signs. Management policies and plans (which are usually publicly available online) can include additional restrictions on things like using motor vehicles, bikes, and aircraft.
Types of conservation land
Marginal Strip (Moveable or Fixed)
DOC administers marginal strips under the Conservation Act. Rules for conservation land apply to marginal strips.
Marginal strips are areas of conservation land, generally 20m wide. They are intended to adjoin some parts of the coast, some lakes larger than 8 hectares and some rivers wider than 3m.
Under section 24C of the Conservation Act 1987, marginal strips are created for the purposes of public access and recreation, and conservation.
Marginal strips are created automatically when the Crown sells any land. Since 1987, they have been created under Part 4A of the Conservation Act 1987. They were previously made under various Land Acts.
Marginal strips created between April 1990 and June 2007 have not been surveyed as land parcels. Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) data may not have these marginal strips captured digitally, so they do not appear in our maps.
Marginal strips created since 1990 move with the relevant water boundary to ensure public access endures into the future. Those created earlier are fixed and are affected by erosion and accretion.
Read more: Rivers, lakes and coast
Public access to marginal strips
Conservation Purposes
Land declared under the Conservation Act 1987 to be held for conservation purposes.
Public access is allowed, and the rules for conservation land will apply.
Stewardship Area
These are conservation areas that have not yet been assessed to see if they require additional protection.
Most stewardship areas were transferred to DOC when it was established in 1987 because they were considered to have conservation value.
DOC is working through a process of reclassifying this land so that it has the appropriate protection.
Public access is allowed under the Conservation Act 1987 and the rules for conservation land apply to stewardship land.
Conservation Parks
Conservation Parks are made up of several smaller areas of conservation land that are brought together under the status of a park so that they can be managed as one unit, to ensure long-term biological diversity as well as recreational opportunities.
Public access is allowed under the Conservation Act 1987 and the rules for conservation land apply to conservation parks.
Amenity Area
Small areas within a wider conservation area that are suitable for recreation and related services for public use, for example, a visitor centre or toilets.
Public access is allowed and the rules for conservation land will apply.
Wilderness Area
An area of remote land that is diverse in landscape, has been set apart to provide additional protection or management, and has opportunities for physical recreation with minor human influence.
Wilderness Areas are maintained in a natural state. No buildings, domestic animals, roads are permitted. However, public foot access is allowed for recreation.
Sanctuary Area
An area possessing significant wildlife, outstanding ecosystems, geological or physiological features. Public access to these areas can be prohibited, restricted or controlled if the area is susceptible to damage or disturbance caused by public access.
Ecological Area
These are protected for a specified scientific, particularly ecological, value. Ecological areas protect natural processes and genetic pools for indigenous plants and animals. They can provide benchmarks for assessing changes due to development in a region. They can be used to raise public awareness and for recreation, where appropriate.