AT I M Department of Conservation O N AC T In-Confidence IN FO R Status Report N D ER TH E O FF IC IA L Week beginning: 4 December 2017 R EL EA SE D U Seen by Hon Eugenie Sage Minister of Conservation Date: / / 1 Standing and Priority Items EA SE D U N D ER TH E O FF IC IA L IN FO R M AT I O N AC T Withheld s9(2)(f)(iv) R EL Withheld s9(2)(f)(iv) Battle for our Birds AT I Field teams are busy counting rodents at BfoB sites across the country. This work occurs in conjunction with the four seasons each year. The results will allow us to gauge the rate of success in achieving predator control targets for BfoB operations completed to date. A report on these results will be available in the New Year. Rodent monitoring will also allow the go/no-go decision to be made for the two remaining unconfirmed BfoB aerial 1080 operations. Work will be triggered at Makorora and for Project Kaka, only if rodents reach problem levels. This is standard practice for BfoB operations – i.e., work is planned at sites where predator numbers are predicted to reach dangerous levels, then confirmed if trigger levels are reached. IN FO R M  IA L Progress to date across the 2017 programme is:  IC We have completed aerial predator control over 441,528 ha (the overall target is to control predators over roughly 750,000 ha by July 2018). A further 98,912 ha of ground control is under way, and will continue through to Autumn 2018. Up to eight more aerial 1080 operations are planned to July 2018, subject to rodent monitoring triggering the need for predator control. FF  E O  ER TH Contact: Peter Morton, Battle for our Birds Project Manager: Myrtle rust was found on two mature ramarama trees on the edge of a wellknown 60ha remnant forest in New Plymouth on 28 November. The bush is locally known as Ratapihipihi Bush and includes 22ha Ratapihipihi Reserve which is public conservation land. The infected trees are on private land, and MPI is in the process of having them removed. DOC is keeping an in-depth watch on the reserve. The first of two seed collection courses for DOC staff was held on 27-29 November in Rotorua, with 17 people attending. The second course, in Nelson, runs from 4-6 December. Initial conversations between DOC and Auckland Council have established a mutual willingness to work together, and it is likely that the council will assist with the national seed collection and national monitoring programmes. As noted in a previous Status Report, you will also be receiving a draft Cabinet paper led by the Minister for Biosecurity, in the near future. EA SE D U  D Myrtle rust N 1.4 EL   R O N  AC T 1.3   Contact: Phil Hancock, Myrtle Rust Programme Manager: Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 2 Updates O FF IC IA L IN FO R M AT I O N AC T Withheld s9(2)(f)(iv) R EL EA SE D U N D ER TH E Withheld s9(2)(f)(iv) Withheld s9(2)(f)(iv) T AC O N AT I M Proposed Regulations for Evacuation of Buildings - Backcountry Huts The Minister of Internal Affairs is intending to lodge a Cabinet paper with the Cabinet Committee on State Sector Reform and Expenditure Control entitled “Policy decisions for Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings) regulations” on 7 December, for the committee meeting the following week. You have been asked for comment, by 4 December. The regulations require that evacuation plans be established for backcountry huts. We support the paper and work is underway to ensure that we comply. We provided you with a memo on 1 December outlining the implications for DOC. E O  FF  IC IA L IN  FO R 2.4 R EL EA SE D U N D ER TH Contact: Bryan Jensen, National Fire Manager: Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 3 Director-General Engagements AC T D-G - Annual Leave (Overseas) (Kay Booth acting) Kapiti Island visit with MfE/MPI and DOC Senior Leadership teams Kapiti SLT Retreat, Wellington (tbc) R EL EA SE D U N D ER TH E O FF IC IA L IN FO R M AT I March 1-2 March NZ Conservation Authority, Wellington DOC Senior Leaders hui, Wellington DOC Wellington Xmas Party, Conservation House, Wellington Te Hiku Board meeting, Whangarei O N December 5 Dec 6-7 Dec 13 Dec 19 Dec January 2018 25 Jan-13 Feb February 22 Feb Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 AT IO N 4.1 AC T 4 Upcoming Briefings and Cabinet Papers Briefings Due date 4 December FO R Ngâti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tâmaki nui-â-Rua and Rangitâne o Wairarapa and Rangitâne o Tamaki nui-â-Rua: Wairarapa Moana final matters. Joint paper with OTS M Title / Ref / Lead Manager 17-B-0800 IA L IN Timoti Gallagher (Acting Director, Treaty Negotiations) MOC meeting with Rob Fenwick 7 December to discuss Kiwis for Kiwis and PFNZ Community Trust IC 17-B-0860 FF Paul Jansen (Advisor to DDG Policy and Visitors) and Rod Treder O Meeting with President of the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ on 6 December ER Meeting with chair of PF2050 Ltd TH Gavin Walker (Director, Recreation, Tourism and Heritage) 4 December D 17-B-0875 4 December E 17-B-0874 4 December U N Mervyn English (Deputy Director-General, Strategy and People) EA SE D Follow up questions from 17-B-0791 concerning orange-fronted parakeet and the rock wren 17-B-0898 EL Brent Beaven (Programme Manager, Predator Free 2050) R Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 4 December 17-B-0794 AT IO N Marie Long (Director, Planning, Permissions and Land) Te Kuha Mine proposal 5 December 17-B-0889 R M Marie Long (Director, Planning, Permissions and Land) FO 375th anniversary of Able Tasman's voyage and National Park IA L Roy Grose (Director, Operations, Northern South Island) IC New Zealand's science system O Ken Hughey (Chief Science Advisor) ER Marie Long (Director, Planning, Permissions and Land) D Wainui Stream, Paekakariki fish passage N EA SE D U Reg Kemper (Director, Operations, Lower North Island) EL None. Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 R 7 December TH E Buller Plateau - options for prohibiting mining on PCL Cabinet Papers 7 December FF 17-B-0796 17-B-0887 6 December IN 17-B-0832 17-B-0834 AC T 5 December Final meeting of South-East Marine Protection Forums on 9 December 8 December Subject Office of Leader of opposition List of all reports, briefings, memos or aide reports that you have received since you were sworn in as Minister of Conservation Documents relating to coal mining on the Buller Plateau Questions about advice received by MOC concerning the proposal to end mining on public conservation land since 26/10/17 Copy of a briefing on the South Taranaki Bight How many PQs were received between 20/11/17 to 28/11/17 and what were the number of hours and the cost of staff time in dollars 21/11/2017 Forest & Bird 17-D-33 24/11/2017 ACT party 17-D-34 28/11/2017 fyi.org.nz 17-D-35 28/11/2017 Private individual R IC IA L IN 17-D-32 Due to requester 18/12/2017 M Organisation FO OIAs to the Minister as at 1 December 2017 Date Ref From received 17-D-31 21/11/2017 AT IO N To the Minister 18/12/2017 21/12/2017 16/01/2018 17/01/2018 D N Organisation Private individual EL EA SE D OIAs to DOC as at 1 December 2017 Date Ref From received 17-E-498 3/11/2017 ER To the Department U 5.2 TH E O FF 5.1 AC T 5 OIA requests lodged since last report Subject Records which can reveal reasons for the cancellation of his contract R Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 Due to requester 1/12/2017 6/11/2017 Rodney Times/Stuff Copies of any correspondence regarding recorded breaches to DOCs marine mammal laws that involve a drone, including warnings or fines that may have been issued 17-E-504 7/11/2017 Barrister Questions about the DOC 1080 operations in Whitianga on 17/10/17 17-E-505 8/11/2017 Private individual Questions about 1080 drop in Kahurangi National Park 17-E-506 4/11/2017 Private individual Health effects of dust from brodifacoum 1/12/2017 17-E-507 8/11/2017 Game Animal Council Correspondence between DOC and NZDA and GAC in the last six weeks regarding the WARO review and the upcoming engagement meetings 6/12/2017 17-E-508 9/11/2017 Fairfax media A number of questions about threats to DOC staff 17-E-514 14/11/2017 Westport News All mining and exploration/access agreements on West Coast Tai Poutini conservancy public conservation land 12/12/2017 17-E-516 15/11/2017 Forest and Bird What CPLA discretionary consents applied for within the Mackenzie Basin the department commented on in the previous 12 months and other questions 13/12/2017 17-E-517 16/11/2017 Private individual BIM request 13/12/2017 17-E-519 17/11/2017 Information about OIAs 13/12/2017 AT IO N 4/12/2017 AC T 17-E-500 5/12/2017 7/12/2017 EA SE D U N D ER TH E O FF IC IA L IN FO R M 6/12/2017 EL Private individual R Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 16/11/2017 Lyall Thornton Barristers Ririwha Restoration Trust 13/12/2017 17-E-521 16/11/2017 CooneyLees Morgan Lawyers True Honey Co Ltd concession 13/12/2017 17-E-522 16/11/2017 Barrister, environmental law Grazing concessions, access rights, Clarence River reserve 17-E-523 16/11/2017 Environmmental Law Led Shot use in game bird hunting (Dr Tony Reiger) 17-E-524 17/11/2017 Private individual Storage of 1080 in Blenheim 17-E-526 15/11/2017 Private individual Information on beehive sites that are currently excluded from beehive placement due to biodiversity values 17-E-527 21/11/2017 Private individual 17-E-528 20/11/2017 Private individual Series of questions about 1080 and Taranaki Notices of actual discharge for the 2017 aerial 1080 poisoning operations over Moehau, Papakai, Mataora and Otahu 17-E-529 21/11/2017 Private individual 17-E-530 20/11/2017 Private individual 17-E-531 21/11/2017 Media 17-E-532 21/11/2017 AT IO N AC T 17-E-520 14/12/2017 15/12/2017 13/12/2017 18/12/2017 18/12/2017 TH E O FF IC IA L IN FO R M 14/12/2017 19/12/2017 Harataonga Scenic Reserve file 20/12/2017 Evidence that the Environmental Crime network is operating, whether in physical or virtual form 19/12/2017 Final operational report for the 1080 Papakai operation 19/12/2017 EA SE D U N D ER All reports etc concerning Pike River, Paparoa Track, Pike Memorial Track and other questions EL Private individual R Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 22/11/2017 Private individual Whitianga aerial 1080 drop: what is the name of the driver of the non-DOC vehicle present 20/12/2017 17-E-534 23/11/2017 Private individual A copy of the full report and presentation received at the Auckland Conservation Board meeting in February 2017 from Michael Lee about the shipwreck RMS Niagara 21/12/2017 17-E-536 23/11/2017 Private individual Easement query 17-E-537 24/11/2017 Private individual Whakapapa Review report and supporting documents 22/12/2017 17-E-538 23/11/2017 Private individual Rakitu Island-latest census of bird species and densities 21/12/2017 17-E-539 24/11/2017 Private individual Kaikoura helicopters: queries about a permit 22/12/2017 17-E-540 21/11/2017 Private individual Spreadsheet re Te Paki Stream revenue 17-E-541 2/11/2017 Private individual Three letters from I McAlpine. (The spirit of Subaru expedition on Mt Taranaki dated 2/11/17, Opus Manganui Gorge report dated 6/11/17, list of mountain protocol for park users dated 2/11/17) 30/11/2017 17-E-542 28/11/2017 Wairarapa Helicopters Limited List of all WARO permit holders for North Island schedule 17/01/2018 17-E-543 28/11/2017 Private individual A copy of another OIA request, DOCs letter of response and the information provided 17/01/2018 17-E-544 29/11/2017 Fairfax How many complaints have been received for 1080 drops between November 2015 and November 2017 and other questions 18/01/2018 21/12/2017 19/12/2017 EL EA SE D U N D ER TH E O FF IC IA L IN FO R M AT IO N AC T 17-E-533 R Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 29/11/2017 Private individual Who is the concession holder for the telecommunication site on the Ben More range? 18/01/2018 17-E-546 29/11/2017 Office of Amy Adams All reports, briefings, advice and expert opinions, both internal and external, relating to the risk of re-entering the Pike River Mine 18/01/2018 17-E-547 30/11/2017 Forest and Bird Documents relating to coal mining on Buller Plateau 17-E-548 30/11/2017 Private individual Minutes of the meetings of the Animal Ethics Committee for 2017 AT IO N 19/01/2018 M R FO IN IA L IC FF O E TH ER D N U EA SE D EL Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304 R AC T 17-E-545 19/01/2018 T AC O N AT I M R FO IN IA L IC FF O E TH ER D N U D EA SE EL R Status Report 5 – week beginning 4 December 2017 – DOC 3232304