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Biodiversity
Initiatives to protect New Zealand's biodiversity
Introduction
Initiatives to protect and manage New Zealand's biodiversity are being implemented in accordance with the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy. There are a number of work programmes being funded by the Government to support the Strategy. Details about these programmes can be found on the New Zealand biodiversity website.
The Ministry for the Environment and other government agencies are involved in work to protect New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity.
Local government and many iwi and community organisations are also involved in community action to protect and manage our biodiversity.
New Zealand also participates in international initiatives on biodiversity.
The Ministry For the Environment's biodiversity work
The Ministry for the Environment works with other government agencies to protect and manage New Zealand’s biodiversity. The Ministry is currently working on the following issues:
- marine biodiversity
- biodiversity on private land including the Statement of National Priorities for protecting rare and threatened native biodiversity on private land
- pests, weeds and diseases (biosecurity).
The Ministry also administers the Resource Management Act, which includes specific provisions about indigenous biodiversity.
Other government agencies' biodiversity work
Other areas of government work include:
- Biodiversity on public conservation lands and waters (including marine reserves and mammals). This work is led by the Department of Conservation
- Terrestrial biosecurity – led by Biosecurity NZ, part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
- Marine biodiversity and biosecurity – led by the Ministry of Fisheries
- Support for matauranga/ knowledge of Māori about biodiversity – contact the Department of Conservation or Te Puni Kokiri.
Several Crown research institutes are also involved in research on biodiversity:
Research is also undertaken by other crown research institutes, universities, and other agencies.
Community action on biodiversity
Local government has responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991 for maintaining indigenous biological diversity. Regional councils also have some biosecurity duties for pest and weed management. Visit your council’s website through New Zealand Local Government Online. Guidance for local government is available on the Action Biocommunity and Quality Planning websites.
Environmental care groups have sprung up all over the country, often thanks to the efforts of councils. These groups do things like:
- control pests and weeds
- plant native species
- fence stream edges
- grow local native plants from seed
- remove barriers to migratory fish from streams.
Information about some of the activities of individuals, community and iwi groups is available from:
- Your local and regional council, through New Zealand Local Government Online
- Landcare Trust encourages sustainable land management through community involvement
- The New Zealand Ecological Restoration Network provides information on:
- how to look after native species and habitats
- contact details of people and groups who are in on the action
- what’s going on in the regions
- what you can do to look after and restore areas
- general biodiversity information (for example, pest control)
- Queen Elizabeth II Trust, protect “open space” and indigenous habitat on private land through covenants
- Nature Heritage Fund
- Nga Whenua Rahui
Community groups are also making a difference in the marine environment. For example, the Fiordland Marine Guardians are doing their bit to look after one of New Zealand’s most majestic areas.
Funding for community biodiversity initiatives
The New Zealand Biodiversity website contains information about the contestable funds that are available for community initiatives on biodiversity.
Some community initiatives are also funded through the Sustainable Management Fund. You can find out about these projects in the SMF project results.
New Zealand's contribution to international initiatives
Loss of biodiversity is a global concern. New Zealand signed the international Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992 and ratified it in 1993. In doing this, we showed our support for international action to protect biodiversity.
The International Convention on Biological Diversity has three objectives:
- the conservation of biological diversity
- the sustainable use of its components
- the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.
For more information visit the Convention on Biological Diversity website.
When we ratified the Convention, we promised to prepare a national strategy to set goals for conservation and sustainable use of our biodiversity – the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy.Other international action on biodiversity
You can find out more about international action on biodiversity by visiting these websites:
Last updated: 12 March 2008
