West Coast iwi claim the Crown is planning to inflict the biggest land grab on South Islanders since the colonial purchases. They said the proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity could have up to 35% of private land — including Maori reserve land —reclassified by councils as significant natural areas (SNA) and removed from private control. We are concerned that the draft NPSIB will force councils into exercising wide-ranging powers in reclassifying land as SNAs, without much in the way of filters. Associate Minister for the Environment Nanaia Mahuta’s office said it did six case studies on Maori land which could be affected by the proposed policy statement. Under the proposed statement, landowners would be able to carry out existing and new activities with limits, they said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 06, 2019 15:45 UTC