Church body opposes plan for conservation land sales

In a submission on the Conservation Amendment Bill to Parliament’s Environment Committee, the Commission said it is “concerned that the Bill’s emphasis on enabling commercial activity on conservation land fundamentally changes the purpose of conservation management”.

“Conservation land should not be viewed primarily through the lens of economic return,” the submission stated. Proposed changes in the Bill directly conflict with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Catholic Social Teaching, the principle of stewardship of creation, the common good, intergenerational justice and the protection of New Zealand’s unique natural heritage status, the submission argued.

“Ecological value transcends economic value when ecological integrity, biodiversity, cultural identity, spiritual significance, recreation, climate resilience and the wellbeing of future generations are fully respected, considered and preserved. The Commission believes that stewardship and protection must remain the primary purpose of conservation law in Aotearoa.”

The Commission also warned that “decisions that permit the irreversible degradation, sale or fragmentation of conservation lands compromise the inheritance available to future generations”.

The submission called for an explicit requirement that all decisions under the Conservation Act must prioritise the protection of indigenous biodiversity, ecosystems and natural heritage.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi should be explicitly reflected throughout conservation legislation, the submission added.

The Commission recommended retaining the current requirement that conservation land may only be disposed of where it has been independently determined to have little or no conservation value.

Parliamentary approval should be given for any significant disposal of conservation land, the Commission added.

FULL STORY

Conservation Amendment Bill 2026 (Justice and Peace Commission Catholic Diocese of Auckland)