Almost 15% of the region’s land area is administered and staffed in some way by Doc.
The West Coast region has key national visitor sites such as Franz Josef Glacier and Punakaiki, dozens of other recreational and heritage visitor sites and five national parks either within the region or reaching across its boundaries.
Baseline operating expenditure funding for the Western South Island region for the current financial year is $11.675 million.
West Coast Poutini Conservation Board member Dr Barry Wards, a former Forest & Bird president, said the board should be advocating the department’s cause to an incoming government that was looking for savings.
He feared a compromise in the department’s capacity for "holding the line" when the new government was signalling a 6.5% cut to the public service.
Questions of what might have to go and whether the department was discussing "cutting back" needed to be aired. Therefore, the board might have a role to play advocate over funding, Dr Wards said.
"From my position, I think this board has the responsibility to advocate for funds not to be cut", he added.
Doc Western South Island director Mark Davies said he could not comment if cost reductions in the department’s budgets were even being considered at this early point.
"That is the work of the government", he said.
He noted there would be a natural transition for the department with the new government setup.
"We are in the process of adapting to a new government and a new minister’s direction."
That included the department now having three ministers to report to: conservation, hunting and fishing, and oceans and fisheries.
The department would also be hosting the secretariat for the new ministry of oceans and fisheries, Mr Davies told the November 30 meeting.
He noted the transition in the change would be "a learning experience".
However the director-general of conservation would be briefing the government at a high level.
"This is work that will go on between now and Christmas", Mr Davies said.
Chairman Mike Legge said a general discussion was already under way between conservation board chairpersons nationally about approaching the new minister Tama Potaka.
"It hasn’t gone very far yet. I think we need to get the measure of the minister", he said.
Mr Davies said the board should be patient given the new administration was still being briefed to get a clearer picture.
He expected the implications to become much clearer from February.
— Brendon McMahon
