Story by The Daily Examiners, Mike Bain.
The amendment to the Wildlife Act, New Zealand’s foundational wildlife protection law, was passed under urgency on Thursday and allows the Director-General of Conservation to grant companies permission to kill kiwi and other native wildlife if they get in the way of projects like roads, mines or dams, claims Greenpeace.
The Improvements to the Wildlife Act passed through Parliament aims to ensure that critical development projects—such as new solar and wind farms—can proceed while maintaining protections for New Zealand’s wildlife, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
However, environmental groups and opposition parties argue that the changes weaken conservation efforts and prioritize economic growth over biodiversity.
The amendments follow a High Court ruling that deemed it unlawful for the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai to authorize the killing of wildlife unless there was a direct link between the act and wildlife protection.
While incidental harm to wildlife is not desired, it can occur during lawful activities such as consented construction projects.
“This decision placed multiple projects, which previously received DOC authorizations, in a state of uncertainty,” Mr. Potaka says. “Projects include activities for building new solar and wind farms, plantation forests, and powerline maintenance that are essential for supporting our growing economy.”
The Government argues that changes provide clarity and legal certainty for authority holders, ensuring that conservation work like pest control and infrastructure projects can continue lawfully.
“We are restoring the approach that DOC was taking for authorizing activities before the Court’s decision and providing legal clarity,” Mr. Potaka states.
However, critics, including Greenpeace has condemned the move as a clear and dangerous escalation of the Luxon Government’s war on nature.
“No one wants to see roading or mining companies handed a licence to kill kiwi – but that’s exactly what this Bill makes possible,” says Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop.
“This is a law change no one asked for – except the corporations that see wildlife as an obstacle to profit. It’s being rushed through in the dead of night so the public can’t even have a say,”
“Once a species is gone, it’s gone forever. We should be strengthening protections for endangered wildlife, not making it legal to kill them,” says Toop.
WWF-New Zealand, warn that the amendments dilute the fundamental purpose of the Wildlife Act, which is to protect threatened native species.
WWF-New Zealand CEO Dr. Kayla Kingdon-Bebb describes the changes as “shonky law-making and selfish short-termism,” arguing that they prioritize economic expansion at the expense of nature.
Green Party MP Lan Pham has also voiced strong opposition, calling the amendments “nonsensical” and a betrayal of the Government’s duty to protect the environment.
“This law adds uncertainty to the Wildlife Act, which was our key legislation for safeguarding wildlife,” Pham said in Parliament, criticizing the rushed process and lack of expert consultation.
Labour MP Arena Williams echoed concerns, stating that the amendments effectively grant a “carte blanche license to destroy natural species” under the guise of infrastructure development.
“This bill should be called the ‘Wildlife (Authorisation to Kill) Amendment Bill,’” Williams remarked during the debate.
Despite the backlash, Mr. Potaka insists that safeguards remain in place to protect wildlife.
“Under the amended Wildlife Act, authority holders are still expected to avoid and minimize harm to protected species. Examples include relocating animals before construction work to protect populations and support the ongoing viability of species,” he says.
With the amendments now enacted, the Government plans to accelerate a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act.
However, environmental advocates argue that what is truly needed is new legislation that prioritizes biodiversity protection rather than facilitating development.
Image: Greenpeace.
