The iconic Pancake Rocks visitor site at Punakaiki is one of multiple high-use visitor sites administered by DOC across its huge West Coast region, which stretches over 650km north to south. Photo: 123RF
The West Coast Conservation Board has been reminded to be "active and visible" in the next year to advance a community voice at the table.
That focus on active visibility and for the board to "encourage, nurture and facilitate" community interest in conservation is outlined in the annual letter of expectation from the Minister of Conservation, Willow-Jean Prime.
Among key expectations is for the board to actively monitor the West Coast components of the Himalayan Tahr Control Plan, and to review the annual tahr control operational plan for the region.
The board received the letter of expectation last month and it was tabled at its 23 May meeting in Blackball.
"As board members, you represent the public interest in conservation. It is integral that you are active and visible in your communities, so that you bring a well-informed community voice to the table," the minister said.
The iconic Fox Glacier viewed from the new Tohu Whenua site, Te Kopikopiko o Te Waka, on Cook Flat. The new glacier viewing site celebrates the area's significant cultural heritage and was developed as a result of the permanent closure of the DOC administered road into the glacier in 2017. Photo: LDR / Brendon McMahon
Other board-specific priorities directed by the minister for 2023-24 include:
- To support and maintain "the co-governance and co-design" of the West Coast Te Tai o Poutini Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) review in conjunction with Poutini Ngāi Tahu;
- Maintain trust relationships with Poutini Ngāi Tahu (Ngāti Waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio), and the region's mayors and chairs forum;
- Continue to increase board engagement and networking with communities "to understand and reflect" their interest in the work of the board;
- Build capability at board level on its primary focus across governance, strategic and advisory level aspects;
- Build on a positive team culture and approach by the board;
- Monitor by receiving reports on milestones within the West Coast National Park management plans and the CMS;
- Engage in monitoring the performance and delivery of DOC's national predator control programme and the Predatorfree South Westland project.
The minister also acknowledged priorities already set by the board for the coming year.
These include cementing the board-iwi partnership and relations, progressing a full review of the CMS, the Westland Tai Poutini National Park Plan review, and the partnership with the neighbouring Nelson Marlborough board to fully review the Kahurangi National Park management plan.
The letter also sets out the statutory framework for the board to work with the Department of Conservation.
Minister of Conservation, Willow-Jean Prime. Photo: ©VNP / Phil Smith
"The focus of conservation boards is policy issues, strategic direction, and planning -- not the day-to-day operations of the department," Prime said.
DoC was focused on the delivery of quality conservation which aligned with the "conservation leadership role" of the board within its local communities.
To that end the relationship was of the board "providing advice" to the department on conservation matters across the region.
* Disclosure: Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick is also the editor of the Greymouth Star. He took no part in the commissioning, writing or editing of this LDR story.
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