The Government of New Zealand has released a draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB) for comment. Submissions on the draft NPS-IB and accompanying discussion document close on 14 March 2020.
This article briefly summarises the key components of the NPS-IB, notes some differences between the NPS-IB and previous National Policy Statements and highlights two of the key implementation requirements – the requirement for territorial authorities to identify Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) and the requirement to avoid (some) effects on those areas.
Before getting into the implementation requirements, the policy framework of the NPS-IB is important to understand.
The purpose of the NPS-IB is to set out objectives and policies in relation to maintaining indigenous biodiversity and to specify what local authorities must do to achieve those objectives. This directive approach to local authority requirements is unique to the NPS-IB.
There are 6 objectives and 15 policies contained in the NPS-IB. The objectives are:
1. To maintain indigenous biodiversity.
2. To take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the management of indigenous biodiversity.
3. To recognise and provide for Hutia Te Rito in the management of indigenous biodiversity.
4. To improve the integrated management of indigenous biodiversity.
5. To restore indigenous biodiversity and enhance the ecological integrity of ecosystems.
6. To recognise the role of landowners, communities and tangata whenua as stewards and kaitiaki of indigenous biodiversity by:
a) allowing people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural wellbeing now and in the future; and
b) supporting people and communities in their understanding of and connection to, nature.
The policies relate to and expand on these objectives.
The policies then expand on these objectives and link to the implementation requirements imposed through Part 3 of the NPS-IB.
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