General policy statement

Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act 1991 contains a list of categories of public conservation land that cannot be the subject of an access agreement from the Minister of Conservation. An access agreement is necessary if any prospecting, exploration, or mining is to occur on the public conservation estate. The categories in Schedule 4 include National Parks, Marine Reserves, Scientific Reserves, and other types of land. Under the current law, the Minister can remove specified land from Schedule 4 through an Order in Council, once public consultation has occurred. The removal of such land means that the Minister of Conservation may, subject to other criteria, approve an access arrangement for the purpose of prospecting, exploration, or mining.

This Bill will prevent the Minister from removing land from the protection of Schedule 4 but will still allow for the addition of land to Schedule 4, by an Order in Council. An Act will have to be used to remove any such land from Schedule 4.

Clause by clause analysis

Clause 1 is the Title clause.

Clause 2 is the commencement clause. The Bill comes into force on the day after the date it receives the Royal assent.

Clause 3 provides that this Act amends the Crown Minerals Act 1991 (the principal Act).

Clause 4 provides that the Governor-General may by Order in Council on the recommendation of the Minister and Minister of Conservation, amend Schedule 4 to add to the list of Crown owned land, but may not remove any land from that list.