29607 (2025). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation

29607 (2025). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation: Which freshwater areas, if any, are the government aiming to protect by 2030?

Hon Tama Potaka: New Zealand is committed to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework and its component goals and targets, including achieving 30% protection of land and of oceans globally by 2030. While New Zealand has not adopted the 30% by 2030 global target at a domestic level, in relation to freshwater protection, New Zealand has significant freshwater protection in place through a range of mechanisms, including freshwater protected as public conservation estate. The conservation estate comprises approximately 33% of New Zealand’s land area and includes protected areas such as National parks, Wildlife areas, Conservation area, Reserves, and Stewardship land. At this time, the Department of Conservation has no plans for increased formal statutory protection of additional freshwater ecosystems (wetlands, lakes and rivers) beyond those already protected through land protected as public conservation estate. However, where landowners are willing, conservation covenants (QEII Trust, Nga Whenua Rahui, or DOC covenants) can support landowner aspirations to protect freshwater areas such as wetlands. Tenure review has also contributed to increased protection of freshwater areas. The Department of Conservation is also planning to use the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations to increase protection for freshwater fish spawning habitat.