The new Conservation Amendment Bill undermining legal precedent w/ Chair of Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, Catherine Delahunty: 16th June, 2026

The government claims its new Conservation Amendment Bill will improve protections of conservation land while also enabling more economic growth. Its opponents say the bill will undermine existing protections, however, especially as it enables the sale of large swathes of conservation land into private ownership. This would also undermine existing legal protections for land specifically in the Coromandel, which alongside the Fast Track Bill illustrates this government’s intention to entirely circumvent many of New Zealand’s long-standing environmental policies. To discuss the Conservation Amendment Bill, what makes it an interesting policy, and how it could end up affecting local conservation efforts in the region, News Director Castor spoke to Chair of Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, Catherine Delahunty. You can make a submission on the bill here. Submissions close at midnight on the second of July.