A conservation covenant is a voluntary legal agreement made between a landowner and an authorised agency which gives formal protection to the natural, cultural, historical and/or significant values of a site. The landowner continues to own the site, while managing it in accordance with the agreement. The covenanted area is registered on the landowner’s Certificate of Title and is binding on future owners of the site.Types of covenants and relevant legislation include:An open space covenant under Section 22 of the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Act 1977; orA conservation covenant under Section 77 of the Reserves Act 1977; orA declaration of protected private land under Section 76 of the Reserves Act 1977; orA management agreement for conservation purposes under Section 38 of the Reserves Act 1977; orA covenant for conservation purposes under Section 27 of the Conservation Act 1987; orA management agreement for conservation purposes under Section 29 of the Conservation Act 1987; orA Maori reservation for natural, historic, or cultural conservation purposes under Sections 338 to 341 of the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (Maori Land Act 1993).
