Legal protection of land

If you are planning to do conservation work on your property, consider some form of legal protection to protect your work in perpetuity. This will ensure that your conservation achievements continue, regardless of who owns the land in the future.

With 30 per cent of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland's remaining native vegetation found on private land, the most effective tools for ensuring these biodiversity values are protected into the future are:

• legal protection through a private land covenant;
• gifting land to a public agency or non-governmental organisation; and
• creating a binding land management agreement with the Auckland Council or the Department of Conservation.

See our Guide to the legal protection of land.

Start with these resources

Protecting your land

The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust partners with landowners to protect special places on private land for the benefit of present and future generations.

Legally protecting land

Find out the types of legal land protection relevant to conservation.

Voluntary protection of natural areas on private land

An outline of what you can do to help protect biodiversity on your property through a range of legal and funding options.

PDF download 438 KB

Guidelines for Nominating a Notable Tree for Evaluation

These guidelines outline the requirements for nominating a notable tree for evaluation by Auckland Council for inclusion on the region’s Notable Tree Schedule. This document will assist you in completing and submitting the nomination form.

PDF download 1.58 MB

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Leave a gift in your will

Provides examples of useful and accurate wording to provide your solicitor or financial adviser.

Make a bequest

Advice if you wish to leave a gift of property to QEII National Trust.

Legislation that protects our heritage

The legal statutes that protect heritage in Auckland.

Covenants to protect the natural environment

Find out what a covenant is and how to protect biodiversity on your property through a range of legal and funding options.

Protecting habitats on private land

A review of protection options on private land.

PDF download 336 KB

Native Forest Restoration Trust

A trust that owns and manages over 7000 hectares of now protected reserves. The trust purchases significant ecological areas to ensure they are protected into the future.

Legally protected conservation land snapshot

A Ministry for the Environment 2010 summary on land legally protected for conservation purposes in New Zealand.

PDF download 1.26 MB

Ngā Whenua Rāhui (Māori land protection)

This funding programme exists to protect the natural integrity of Māori land and preserve mātauranga (knowledge and wisdom) Māori.