Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has dismissed claims that the Conservation Amendment Bill could make up to 60% of public conservation land eligible for disposal, saying the figure misrepresents what the bill does.

“It’s spurious and scandalous, mischievous and dangerous to be talking like that,” he says.

“There’s no way we’re selling off 60%, or even 6%, or even 1% of the country.”

He says the bill creates a clear process for disposing of small parcels that carry liabilities and have nothing to do with biodiversity, heritage, or recreation.

“National’s the party of conservation, and I care more about conservation than I think anyone else in Parliament.”

He says land within national parks, wilderness areas and marine areas will not be touched, and that the remaining small parcels, dotted across different classifications, are what the disposal process is designed for.

“All this land, this 40%, there’s no way you can touch that.”

He says disposal already happens, and has happened, under previous governments, including high conservation value land at Mount White Station near Arthur’s Pass.

“Green ministers of conservation, and the five Labour ministers from the previous government, presided over the disposal of land.”

He says economic activity already happens on conservation land, and the bill keeps conservation as the primary purpose.

“It happens all over the place, whether or not it’s guided walks or tourism or grazing or a whole range of other activities.”

He says the bill does not change public access.

“There’s nothing in the bill in my view that stops access or prevents access,” he says.

Potaka says the changes are not about generating revenue, as many small parcels are worth little and carry liabilities. Instead, he says DOC should charge market fees for concessionaires, car parking, and international tourists using huts and tracks.

He says treaty settlements, including with Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine, often resolve some conservation land, and submissions remain open through the select committee.

“It’s important for all New Zealanders, all Kiwis, to have facts before speculation and opinion.”

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