39814 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation

39814 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation: Further to reply 38349, what advice, guidance, direction, or any other document, if any, does Department of Conservation officials use to make decisions under delegated authority about approving or declining access arrangements for mines and/or mining operations, listed by title of document?

Hon Tama Potaka: Department of Conservation officials refer to a wide range of statutes, statutory plans, internal operating procedures, policies and guidelines when assessing applications for access arrangements associated with mining activities under delegated authority. Exactly which documents are relevant to any individual application is dependent on land status, scope of the proposed activity and other factors. The legislation, statutory documents, guidance and templates which may be used, depending on circumstances, is provided in the attached table.