The Reserves Act 1977 is an Act of Parliament passed in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. It is administered by the
Department of Conservation
It contains provisions for the acquisition, control, management, maintenance, development and use of public reserves.
Types of reserves
The law defines particular types of reserves, which are all managed by the department:
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National reserves are areas that have been designated as having national importance due to their historical or ecological value.
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Recreation reserves have been established for recreation and sporting activities, to promote physical welfare and enjoyment and protect the natural environment and beauty.
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Historic reserves have been established to protect and preserve places, objects and natural features that are of historic, archaeological, cultural, educational and other special interest.
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Scenic reserves are reserves protected because of their scenic interest, beauty or natural features.
These are the most common type of protected area in New Zealand. Most are small areas of remnant native forest close to roads. Statutory control of scenic reserves was earlier provided by the
Scenery Preservation Act 1903 before the Reserves Act 1977 was passed.
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Nature reserves
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
are reserves established to protect indigenous flora or fauna, or rare or scientifically important natural features. Entry to these reserves is limited to those with specific permits.
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Scientific reserves are reserves established to protect areas for scientific research and education. Entry to part of all of these reserves is limited to those with specific permits.
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Government purpose reserves are reserves held for a particular government purposes, like wildlife management areas.
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Local purpose reserves are local reserves held for particular purposes.
Local reserves can be created for, "utility, road, street, access way, esplanade, service lane, playcentre, kindergarten, plunket room, or other like purpose", including to protect reservoir catchments.
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Wilderness areas
Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural), are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally re ...
are reserves or parts of reserves maintained in a natural state, with a ban on buildings, roads, human infrastructure or introduced animals.
* Other areas of private, Crown or
Māori land may be leased back by the Crown under conservation covenants to preserve the natural environment.
See also
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Conservation in New Zealand
Conservation in New Zealand has a history associated with both Māori and Europeans. Both groups of people caused a loss of species and both altered their behaviour to a degree after realising their effect on indigenous flora and fauna.
Protected ...
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Environment of New Zealand
The environment of New Zealand is characterised by an endemic flora and fauna which has evolved in near isolation from the rest of the world. The main islands of New Zealand span two biomes, temperate and subtropical, complicated by large mount ...
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Protected areas of New Zealand
Protected areas of New Zealand are areas that are in some way protected to preserve their environmental, scientific, scenic, historical, cultural or recreational value. There are about 10,000 protected areas covering about a third of the country. ...
References
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External links
Text of the Act
Statutes of New Zealand
Environmental law in New Zealand
1977 in New Zealand law
1977 in the environment