Why you should pay attention to the Conservation Amendment Bill as a caver.
The Conservation Amendment Bill is currently open for submissions to the select committee - Now extended to closing at midnight on the 13th of July 2026. This bill would allow the “disposal, sale or exchange” of 60% of our Public Conservation Land and rewrite the purpose of the Department of Conservation to make economic development their core function. FOG would like to encourage all our members who take joy in accessing our Public Conservation Land to read up on the Bill and make personal submissions.
Notable examples of caving areas at risk of “disposal” are Charleston, Patarau and Waitomo, classified predominantly as conservation areas and stewardship land. FOG would also like to acknowledge that this bill has not been appropriately informed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and that “development” of PCL will reduce our country’s potential for carbon sequestration.
As an organisation that exists to advance education in caving and benefit our caving community which expressly includes acting to “protect, conserve, and preserve the cave and karst landscapes of New Zealand for the public benefit, and to advocate for and raise public awareness regarding the ecological significance and conservation of these environments”. FOG has written a submission opposing this bill. The submission can be viewed here.
Personal submissions can be as short or detailed, scientific or personal as you have capacity for. We recommend some personal anecdotes of your favourite parts of our PCL that are under threat from this bill. Use your expertise in caving to defend our irreplaceable back country in all its forms, for all modes of enjoyment. Be sure to state your stance on this bill clearly, for example “I oppose this bill in its entirety and recommend the select committee do not let it proceed”.
Further information regarding this bill can be found at these sites: