Nature and land use can co-exist

Imagine a future in which greater Wellington’s hills, valleys and coasts are thriving with abundant bush, birds, and other native species. It’s a future within our reach. So much great work has already been done to restore bush and wildlife in our region – but we need protections in place to secure these gains for future generations.

While New Zealand is blessed with large areas of protected public land, many threatened species and ecosystems are now found only on private land.

All councils in the Wellington region are required to identify and map important areas of native habitat (known as Significant Natural Areas or SNAs), under the Wellington Regional Policy Statement. Ka¯ piti Coast District, Porirua City and Hutt City councils have begun identifying these areas and mapping them as SNAs.

On the Ka¯ piti Coast, the process of mapping SNAs has gone well, and residents in Porirua are supportive of the process kicking off in their city.

But in Lower Hutt things haven’t gone smoothly. A group of landowners have protested against Hutt City Council’s attempt to improve protections for nature on private land, which led to the council backing down on their legal requirement.

Perhaps the council’s communication with residents wasn’t as good as that in other districts, and that’s led to fear and misunderstandings. But it’s worth remembering many councils have already successfully identified and mapped SNAs on private land, including Auckland.

It hasn’t prevented Auckland from continuing to develop – but it has provided a tool to help protect the natural bush remnants that make our towns and cities attractive and liveable. These areas are essential for the survival of our threatened wildlife, particularly in the face of urban growth.

In places where SNAs have been completed, landowners can still carry out a range of activities on their properties. Land has still been developed. Property prices haven’t plummeted. In fact, many residents have relished the opportunity to learn more about threatened plants and wildlife on their property, and access support like funding, advice or rates rebates to restore their patch of bush.

Hutt City Council is failing to carry out its legal obligations, and Forest & Bird is likely to seek a court declaration to that effect.

Voluntary arrangements on their own won’t be enough to protect and restore our native bush and wildlife. The good efforts of the majority can be undone by the reckless actions of a few.

SNAs are likely to become a requirement nationally in the near future. With genuine engagement and flexibility from councils, and an open-minded and enthusiastic approach from Wellingtonians – as many have already demonstrated— we can all reap the benefits and opportunities that comes from protecting nature.