High vs low impact proposals

Flax snails being tagged

Proposals are divided into high or low impact categories so we can give proper consideration to applications with potentially significant effects while making sure that activities that will have little or no effect are processed quickly.

We have established criteria to help you quickly determine whether your application is a low or high impact proposal.

Low impact proposals are those that should have little or no significant effect. These will normally be processed within five working days of receiving the application. High impact proposals are those likely to have more significant effects and will require more careful consideration and are likely to take six weeks to process.

Use the criteria below to determine whether your application is a high or low impact proposal.

The principle behind these criteria is based on the potential effects of the activity. If the criteria below do not cover the particular circumstances you are dealing with, then ask yourself "is this activity likely to have any significant effects on conservation, historic, cultural or recreational values?". If the answer is 'yes' then your application is a high impact proposal.

High impact criteria

Will the effect of the proposed activity significantly impact on the species or its habitat, or will it have any other potentially significant effects?

Does the application involve disturbance to culturally significant species or involve research of cultural interest?

Does the activity involve:

• commercial use of the material?
• collection of DNA samples (except for purely taxonomic classification purposes)?
• taking of any sample (incl. DNA) for genetic modification purposes e.g. the creation of a new organism?
• material being removed from NZ (except for purely taxonomic classification purposes)?

Does the activity involve a nature reserve, or wildlife sanctuary or a specially protected area of a national park?

Will the application or conduct of the activity generate significant public interest?

Does the activity involve significant and invasive collection methods for wildlife? For example does it involve:

• significant adverse effects on the individuals including blood or tissue sampling when other less invasive methods can be used?
• killing of the sample (with the exception of non-threatened invertebrates)?
• the removal of any species from their natural habitat (with the exception of non-threatened)?

Low impact criteria

Will the term of the permit be less than five years (including the public/private display of wildlife)? (Note: Generally, Wildlife Act permits to hold species such as kakariki, common lizards and waterfowl will fall into this low impact category).

Are the effects of the proposed activity on the species, its habitat or other conservation values considered to be insignificant?

Is the isolation of any genetic material/DNA sample for purely taxonomic classification purposes?

Is the material being removed from New Zealand for purely taxonomic classification purposes?

Processing times and costs

High impact

Cost: $380 + GST
Processing time: Six weeks

Low impact

Cost: $95 + GST (plus an additional $95 + GST per additional conservancy included in the permit)
Processing time: Five working days

back to top