Minister of Conservation (New Zealand)

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Minister of Conservation
Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Tama Potaka (cropped).png
Incumbent
Tama Potaka
since 27 November 2023
Department of Conservation
Style The Honourable
Member of Executive Council
Reports to Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointer Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation1 April 1987
First holder Russell Marshall
Salary$288,900 [1]
Website www.beehive.govt.nz

The minister of conservation is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility for promoting conservation of the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand. [2]

Contents

The current minister is Tama Potaka. [3]

History

The role of Minister of Conservation was established in 1987 alongside the formation of the Department of Conservation and the passage of the Conservation Act 1987.

Responsibilities

The minister leads the government's work on conservation issues and is responsible for advocating on behalf of conservation outcomes in the natural resources sector. In that way, the minister works closely with the Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Energy and Resources, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, the Minister for Biosecurity, the Minister for Land Information, the Minister of Local Government, the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Agriculture. [4] [5]

As the responsible minister for the Department of Conservation, the minister's portfolio overseas 30% of the land area in New Zealand. In addition to the Conservation Act 1987, the minister is responsible for the Wildlife Act 1953, the Marine Reserves Act 1971, the Wild Animal Control Act 1977, the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, and the National Parks Act 1980. [2] The minister has functions under the Resource Management Act 1991, including the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, approving regional coastal plans developed by local authorities, and acting as the local authority for the Kermadec and Subantarctic Islands. [4] [5]

The minister is responsible for acquiring land for conservation purposes, recommending the creation of national parks, granting concessions for activities on public conservation land, and establishing marine mammal sanctuaries and marine reserves. [4] [5]

The minister oversees and appoints members of the 15 regional conservation boards, the 29 reserves boards, the Fish & Game Council (and regional Fish & Game Councils), the Game Animal Council, the Game Bird Habitat Trust Board, the New Zealand Conservation Authority, and Predator Free 2050 Limited. [4] [5]

The Loder Cup awarded for conservation is presented by the minister.

List of ministers

Key

   Labour    National    Alliance    Green

No.NamePortraitTerm of officePrime Minister
1 Russell Marshall Russell Marshall.jpg 1 April 198724 August 1987 Lange
2 Helen Clark Helen Clark UNDP 2010.jpg 24 August 198730 January 1989
3 Philip Woollaston No image.png 30 January 19892 November 1990
Palmer
Moore
4 Denis Marshall No image.png 2 November 199030 May 1996 Bolger
5 Simon Upton Simon Upton 01 crop.jpg 30 May 199616 December 1996
6 Nick Smith Nick Smith in 1997 (cropped).jpg 16 December 199610 December 1999
Shipley
7 Sandra Lee Sandra Lee 1990's.jpg 10 December 199915 August 2002 Clark
8 Chris Carter Chris Carter, 2008.jpg 15 August 200231 October 2007
9 Steve Chadwick Steve Chadwick.jpg 31 October 200719 November 2008
10 Tim Groser Tim Groser.jpg 19 November 200827 January 2010 Key
11 Kate Wilkinson Kate Wilkinson crop.jpg 27 January 201022 January 2013
(6) Nick Smith Nick Smith (cropped).jpg 22 January 20138 October 2014
12 Maggie Barry Maggie Barry crop.png 8 October 201426 October 2017
English
13 Eugenie Sage Eugenie Sage.jpg 26 October 20176 November 2020 Ardern
14 Kiri Allan Kiri Allan.jpg 6 November 202014 June 2022
15 Poto Williams Hon Poto Williams.jpg 14 June 20221 February 2023
Hipkins
16 Willow-Jean Prime Willow-Jean Prime (New Zealand Politician).jpg 1 February 202327 November 2023
17 Tama Potaka Tama Potaka (cropped).png 27 November 2023present Luxon

See also

References

  1. "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2016" (PDF). Parliament.nz. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Conservation | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. "Ministerial List". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Department of Conservation (2020). Briefing to the incoming Minister of Conservation (PDF) (Report).
  5. 1 2 3 4 Department of Conservation (June 2022). Briefing to the incoming Minister of Conservation (PDF) (Report).