There is potential for the the Remarkables area to be classified as a new conservation park. "Ngai Tahu is saying ‘no’ to such decisions until we have worked through our National Parks Act. At present, the land between the Remarkables and the Hector Mountains is classified as stewardship land. When the department was formed in 1987, public land passed into its management and was classified as stewardship land until the Government decided what to do with it. And according to the Forgotten Lands Campaign, more than 10% of New Zealand land remained in what has been described as a "statutory holding pen".

Source: Otago Daily Times October 27, 2016 17:09 UTC