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Open Space^TM magazine

Check out the QEII Open Space magazine, July 2008 (PDF 3.5MB)

Download July 2008 articles:

Restoring degraded gullies in Hamilton

Stemming the decline in beech mistletoes

Find out more about Open Space magazine ....

Next issue: Late November 2008

QEII Open Space Covenants

• What is a QEII covenant?
• Types of covenant agreement
• Private property rights
• Managing a QEII open space covenant
• Changes of ownership
• Monitoring covenants
• QEII covenant statistics - March 2008

What is a QEII covenant?

A QEII open space covenant is a legally binding protection agreement, which is registered on the title of the land. It is voluntary but once in place binds the current and all subsequent landowners.

Each covenant is unique. It can apply to the whole property or just part of the property. There can be different management areas within a covenant with varying applicable conditions. Conditions can be stringent where rare or vulnerable natural features or habitats are being protected.

Types of covenant agreement

Open space covenants are generally in perpetuity though there can be a case for a variable term covenant. These include:

• Kawenata, on Maori land, which recognises tino rangatiratanga;
• Life of the Trees where individual trees occur in a situation where they may not be self-regenerating;
• Landscape protection agreements where the land does not have title, such as roadside areas.

Private property rights

Private property rights are not jeopardised by a covenant - the landowner retains ownership and management of the land. Visitor access is available only with the landowner's prior permission.

Managing a QEII open space covenant

QEII helps landowners with ongoing management advice and support. A management plan may be prepared with the landowner when a covenant is established, which sets out ongoing management objectives and provides guidance on such aspects as species management, pest control and restoration methods.

A QEII regional representative visits each covenant regularly, usually every 2 years, to monitor its condition and trends, identify and address any threats, and advise the owner about how to meet the covenant objectives.

Changes of ownership

Approximately 50% of open space covenants have changed hands at least once but adherence to covenant requirements is not affected by change of ownership.

Regular monitoring shows that subsequent owners comply with the covenant terms and conditions as consistently as the original covenantors.

Monitoring covenants

A QEII representative visits each covenant every second year to monitor its condition. These visits are a valued opportunity to meet with landowners, share their pleasure in observing positive change, discuss any worries they have and work out together the best ways of managing their covenants.

Monitoring shows the majority of covenants meet not only the terms and conditions of their covenants but exceed them.

View the covenant monitoring statistics (PDF 355KB) for the year ended 30 June 2007.

QEII covenant statistics - March 2008

To see how covenants are distributed throughout New Zealand view QEII regional statistics and map (PDF 199KB)

For benefits of QEII covenants ....