DOC takes over Tasman riverbed
Thousands of hectares of land near a major braided river in the Mackenzie Basin will be transferred from one government agency to another next month.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage confirmed the Tasman riverbed, which was formerly under management of Land Information New Zealand (Linz), will come under management of the Department of Conservation.
Sage said the transfer would ensure the management and administration of the land is better aligned with its values.
‘‘DOC and Linz have agreed that the primary values on the Tasman riverbed are conservation and cultural ones; so it is appropriate that DOC manages the area on behalf of all New Zealanders,’’ she said.
The transfer, which will take place next month, will involve about 4000 hectares of land.
‘‘Canterbury’s braided rivers are internationally important as natural systems, for the plants and wildlife they support, especially braided river birds, like world’s rarest wading bird – the critically endangered ka¯ ki/ black stilt,’’ Sage said.
‘‘The Tasman riverbed is also a spectacular natural landscape and a dramatic entrance to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.’’
Sage said the transfer also opened up opportunities to work more closely with Ngai Tahu to ensure the riverbeds and adjoining lands ‘‘protect biodiversity and cultural values’’.
She said it would also better formalise projects such as Te Manahuna Aoraki, a multiagency project with the aspiration of turning the Mackenzie Basin into a predator-free zone in the next 20 years.
Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board acting chairman Robert Wynn-Williams said it was a very satisfactory decision.
‘‘Linz has never really been in the business of conservation, so to transfer the ownership to DOC makes a lot of sense.
‘‘It’s a decision that has been a long time coming, hopefully it will lead to better protection of our braided rivers.’’
Forest and Bird CanterburyWest Coast regional manager Nicky Snoyink said the management of braided rivers had been ‘‘fraught’’ for years, and the decision to transfer management of the Tasman River was a good start.
‘‘The sooner it can happen, the better,’’ Snoyink said.
‘‘There’s been a lot of protection and predator control work happening in that area already over the years through initiatives such as Project River Recovery, so this transfer will formalise a lot of that.’’