52594 (2025). Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan to the Minister of Conservation

52594 (2025). Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan to the Minister of Conservation: Does he intend to introduce any new Department of Conservation species classification that includes the term “unnecessary”; if so, what criteria will be used to determine that classification?

Hon Tama Potaka: I do not intend to introduce a new species classification that will include the term “unnecessary”. The Department of Conservation uses the independent New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) to inform its prioritisation processes, and to identify species who require conservation efforts and protection. The NZTCS assesses the extinction risk of all species as much as possible and is not influenced by value judgement.