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Open space covenants help to protect New Zealand's unique natural and cultural heritage.
Much of our flora and fauna is endemic to New Zealand (found nowhere else in the world) having evolved in isolation from other landmasses.
Many places in New Zealand have special meaning and history relating to early settlement. Sometimes there are physical traces, such as pa sites. Sometimes there are spiritual and historic associations to do with former inhabitants and events.
This heritage helps to define our sense of national identity and contributes to our enjoyment and appreciation of New Zealand. Moreover, people from all over the world admire our landscapes and natural environments.
However, the loss of natural habitats and the declining diversity of our indigenous flora and fauna is regarded as one of our biggest environmental problems. A number of indigenous species are already extinct and many others are under threat.
Covenants are vital to protecting our heritage because:
70% of New Zealand is privately owned (approximately 19 million hectares), and
Threatened habitats occur mainly on the lowlands on private land, where even small remnants are important
A National Trust open space covenant is a legally binding protection agreement, which is registered on the title of the land. It is voluntary but once in place binds the current and all subsequent landowners. Each covenant is unique. It can apply to the whole property or just part of the property. There can be different management areas within a covenant with varying applicable conditions. Conditions can be stringent where rare or vulnerable natural features or habitats are being protected.
For further information about National Trust open space covenants please visit https://qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/ |