New Zealand Conservation Amendment Bill protests

Opposition is mounting in New Zealand against the government’s proposed Conservation Amendment Bill. The legislation, introduced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, seeks to amend the purpose of the Conservation Act to include enabling commercial activities on conservation land ‘to the greatest extent practicable’.

In August 2026, more than 30 protests and community events were scheduled across the country, including in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, as critics called for the bill to be scrapped. Opponents, including Greenpeace, argue the changes could weaken protections for wilderness areas and facilitate the replacement of natural landscapes with mining pits, private resorts, or shopping complexes.

By September 2026, a coalition of over 30 organizations—including Forest & Bird, various labor unions, and scientific societies—organized a ‘March for Nature’ in Auckland. Protesters specifically highlighted concerns regarding section 6A of the bill, fearing it could lead to the destruction of significant natural landmarks such as Mount Taranaki and Milford Sound for commercial development.