West Coast forest bought by Crown for safeguarding

Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner says the acquisition of a ‘‘rare and important remnant of West Coast forest’’ will protect the area for all New Zealanders. The Department of Conservation has acquired the 152-hectare area of beech forest in the Buller District. Wagner said there were significant areas of kahikatea and matai, while the limestone cliffs on the land were an uncommon ecosystem. The land was bought through DoC’s Nature Heritage Fund.