Ecoworks NZ Ltd. has written a number of Environmental Management Plans on behalf of Overseas Investors as part of the Overseas Investment consent process. A range of criteria are considered by the Overseas Investment Office and the relevant Ministers.
Consideration is given when assessing sensitive land to a range of factors listed in section 17 and regulation 28 of the Act such as:
-Whether there are or will be adequate mechanisms in place for protecting or enhancing existing areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna, pest control regimes, fencing, fire control, erosion control or riparian planting.
-Protecting or enhancing existing areas of significant habitats for trout, salmon, wildlife protected under section 3 of the Wildlife Act 1953, and game as defined in sections 2(1) of that Act (for example, any 1 or more of the mechanisms referred to in paragraph (b)(i) and (ii).
-Providing, protecting or improving walking access to those habitats by the public or any section of the public.
-Whether there are or will be adequate mechanisms in place for protecting or enhancing historic heritage within the relevant land, conditions for conservation (including maintenance and restoration).
-agreement to support registration of any historic place, historic area, wahi tapu, or wahi tapu area under the Historic Places Act 1993; agreement to execute a heritage covenant (refer www.linz.govt.nz)
The Ecoworks NZ team work closely with the applicant to design a cost effective plan to protect or enhance ecological and historic values to augment their investment application. We look at possible options and preferences for riparian protection, planting and threatened species protection or enhancement through vertebrate pest control programmes, weed control, habitat protection or historic site management. Our expertise in this field can provide investors with a range of options which make both economic and ecological sense.
We design a comprehensive strategy which is reviewed by the Department of Conservation at both a local and national level therefore plans need to make sound ecological sense, adhere to recognised ecological management principles and practices and make a significant contribution to the protection of New Zealand's natural heritage to gain maximum value for the investor.
