The Centre for Resource Management Studies is presently working on the reform of the Resource Management Act (“RMA”). However, there is little point in setting the RMA to rights while it applies to just under half of New Zealand's land area, and while the other half is effectively under the control of the Department of Conservation. While somewhat more than half the land remains in private hands and subject to the RMA, the Department of Conservation (DoC) continues to seek to control more of this land by designating or seeking to designate huge areas as significant natural areas or as ecological units – all without compensation. The “Conservation Estate” which is home to probably half of our natural capital in terms of agriculture, forestry, tourism, recreation, minerals and petroleum is controlled by a government department which has no responsibility or authority to promote the economic development of these resources. It is difficult to see how New Zealand can improve its wealth while continuing to lock up half its land mass in Conservation Estate, and placing all the keys in the hands of a single government department, overseen by a Minister with a personal power of veto. (more)