New Zealand Strips Land-Sale Clause from Conservation Amendment Bill

On 25 June 2026 Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced at an Environmental Defence Society conference in Auckland that the Conservation Amendment Bill will no longer contain the land-sale and exchange provisions. He said the government will ask the environment select committee to extend the public-submission period while the bill is amended.

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The National-led coalition’s bill would have opened about 60 percent of New Zealand’s conservation estate—roughly 2.8 million hectares—to sale or exchange. Forest & Bird maps highlighted the scale. The bill also rewrote the Department of Conservation’s purpose to “enable economic use and development to the greatest extent practicable,” a change critics say would ease mining, tourism infrastructure and other commercial projects. Public submissions close at midnight on 2 July 2026.

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Potaka reiterated the government never intended large-scale disposal and said removing the clause addresses the main criticism, though the purpose change stays under review. Luxon said he is pleased to amend the bill to confirm that National Parks and high-value land remain unsellable. Cabinet Minister Shane Jones confirmed cabinet support for Potaka’s plan. Labour’s Rachel Brooking questioned why the government does not simply reclassify low-value parcels as sellable rather than opening the entire estate to development.

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Green Party co-leader Davidson argued that trimming the clause does not fix a bill that favours developers. WWF’s Caitlin Owers warned the rewritten purpose still prioritises economic development over nature. Greenpeace’s Gen Toop said the bill is fundamentally flawed and would still enable harmful development. Forest & Bird policy head Richard Capie argued the government is merely restating existing provisions and called for a full withdrawal and overhaul of the Conservation Act.

Minister to remove controversial clause from the Conservation Amendment Bill

Sources differ on the land at risk: one cites 60 percent of the estate, another 2.8 million hectares, and a third 4 million hectares of stewardship land. The definition of “economic use and development” remains vague, leaving uncertainty about impacts on high-value conservation areas.

Minister to remove controversial clause from the Conservation Amendment Bill

• “That’s on me – that’s on us,” — Tama Potaka, Conservation Minister

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• “You cannot fix a Bill written for developers by trimming the worst bits and hoping no one notices.” — Marama Davidson, Green Party co-leader

Minister to remove controversial clause from the Conservation Amendment Bill

• “From start to finish this Bill is rotten to its core.” — Gen Toop, Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner

Minister to remove controversial clause from the Conservation Amendment Bill

• “I’m very happy to make an alteration to make that clear to everybody involved” — Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister

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The environment select committee will review the amendment and the request for an extended submission window before the 2 July deadline. Critics keep calling for a full rewrite; the government says it will refine language on land sales and the Act’s purpose. The committee’s final recommendation will decide whether further tweaks suffice or a broader overhaul is needed.

Minister to remove controversial clause from the Conservation Amendment Bill