Conservation Bill retains clause pushing DOC to enable economic activity on protected land

The rewritten Conservation Amendment Bill keeps clause 6(ea), which requires DOC to enable "economic opportunities" on conservation land "to the greatest extent practicable." Conservation Minister Tama Potaka dropped land disposal provisions but kept this clause. Greenpeace's Gen Toop called the bill "rotten to its core," warning it could enable more open-cast mines on public conservation land. Submissions continue; a final report is due in November.