{"id":75562,"date":"2026-02-02T15:52:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T02:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=75562"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:52:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T02:52:41","slug":"from-wildlife-protection-to-license-to-kill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/from-wildlife-protection-to-license-to-kill\/","title":{"rendered":"From wildlife protection to license to kill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Luxon Government\u2019s RMA reform and Natural Environment Bill will make it easier for companies kill kiwi and other protected wildlife.<\/p>\n\n

The Luxon Government is dead set on making it even easier to kill kiwi.<\/p>\n\n

Last year, it changed the law so companies could legally kill kiwi and other protected wildlife if they got a permit from the Department of Conservation (DOC).<\/p>\n\n

Now it is going much further. Under its RMA overhaul the Government is proposing to make it even easier for companies to get permission to harm or kill protected species.<\/p>\n\n

If you believe kiwi and other native species deserve more than to be treated like an expendable obstacle to corporate profit, now is the time to speak up.<\/p>\n\n

Make your submission against this kiwi-killing plan before Friday, 13 February.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The rules that kept kiwi safe (until now)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Until last year, it was illegal to kill or harm kiwi and other protected wildlife except in rare cases where it was necessary to protect wildlife overall (for example, euthanising a sick animal to stop disease spreading).<\/p>\n\n

But the Luxon Government made it legal for companies to kill kiwi and native wildlife for commercial activity like roads and mines – but only if they get a permit from DOC which can be denied under certain conditions.<\/p>\n\n

Councils cannot give out resource consents to kill or harm protected wildlife under the RMA.<\/p>\n\n

That separation is important. It means wildlife protection sits outside of resource consenting decisions and is governed by the Wildlife Act which has one clear purpose: to protect wildlife.<\/p>\n\n

From protecting kiwi to approving their deaths<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

But under the Natural Environment Bill, which is set to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), the Government is proposing to:<\/p>\n\n