Department of Conservation

What Department of Conservation does

The Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai) is a New Zealand Crown entity established under the Conservation Act 1987, headquartered in Wellington. It is the statutory agency responsible for managing approximately one-third of New Zealand's total land area, including all 14 national parks, marine reserves, marine mammal sanctuaries, scenic reserves and forest parks. Its operational portfolio spans 950+ huts, 300+ conservation campsites, 11 designated Great Walks (Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, Abel Tasman and others), and 14 staffed visitor centres distributed nationally. The agency also operates online booking, permit administration and DOC Maps (an interactive geospatial platform with 3D base-map capability), and integrates with the Mountain Safety Council's Plan My Walk app for track-condition reporting.

DOC's core programme work centres on native species recovery (kiwi, kākāpō, takahē, kōkako, royal albatross), large-scale predator control (aerial 1080 biodegradable bait operations, the Predator Free 2050 programme covering 20 landscape projects), biosecurity (kauri dieback, H5N1 response), and the Conservation Dogs Programme for protected-species detection. It runs citizen-science tooling (Royal Cam livestream, iNaturalist NZ integration, an Aotearoa Species Classifier app using computer vision), online training courses, and conservation education programmes (EOTC) for schools. Operational technology includes GIS-based inventory and monitoring systems coordinated through a Freshwater Ecosystems geo-database.

Revenue is generated through usage-based fees (campsites, huts, Great Walks), one-time permit/licence fees (hunting, drone, concession, CITES), and transaction fees from on-site paid parking now operating at three South Island sites following a successful pilot. The agency is principally funded via annual parliamentary appropriations, supplemented by Jobs for Nature programme inflows ($1.185 billion over 2020–2025) and partner co-funding. Customer segments span domestic and international recreationists, families, schools (EOTC), hunters, commercial operators/researchers, and iwi/community conservation groups; the Air New Zealand and Mental Health Foundation partnerships extend reach into conservation tourism and public-wellness positioning.

Name

Department of Conservation

Legal name

Department of Conservation

Website

https://doc.govt.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai) is a New Zealand Crown entity that manages approximately one-third of the country's land area, operating 14 national parks, 950+ huts, 300+ campsites, and 11 Great Walks while delivering native-species recovery and large-scale predator-control programmes for public recreation and biodiversity protection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Conservation and National Park Management

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Public conservation management
• National parks services
• Wildlife protection programs
• Outdoor recreation infrastructure
• Conservation permits and concessions

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Campsite Fees: DOC charges fees for camping at over 300 conservation campsites across forest settings, lakeshores and sandy beaches. A paid parking pilot generated $1.5 million in gross revenue over seven months at three South Island sites, and the scheme continues at Punakaiki, Franz Josef, and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
2. Hut Stays and Lodges: DOC manages a network of over 950 huts and provides private lodges, cabins and cottages. Fees are charged per stay based on hut category, with online booking available for huts and Great Walks.
3. Great Walks Bookings: Bookings for New Zealand's premier Great Walks tracks (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Milford Track, Kepler Track, Routeburn Track, and others) are sold through DOC's online booking system with prices published per night.
4. Hunting Permits and Licences: DOC issues open area hunting permits for public conservation land through an online application system. Hunting on conservation land requires a permit.
5. Permissions, Concessions and Permits: DOC issues various permissions, concessions and licences for commercial activities, research, drone use, and other activities on conservation land. Fees are associated with processing permit applications.
6. Paid Car Parking: DOC implements paid car parking at high-traffic conservation sites. Following a successful seven-month pilot generating $1.5 million gross revenue, paid parking continues at three South Island sites with policy adjustments based on visitor feedback.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai) is New Zealand's statutory conservation agency, managing approximately one-third of the country's land area, all 14 national parks, marine reserves and marine mammal sanctuaries. It provides public recreational access through 11 Great Walks, 950+ huts and 300+ campsites, administers hunting permits and commercial concessions, and runs national-scale biodiversity protection and predator control programmes (Predator Free 2050, 1080 baiting, species recovery).

Product overview

Department of Conservation operates a comprehensive platform for managing New Zealand's conservation estate, offering recreational access through 11 Great Walks, over 300 campsites, and 950+ huts. The core offering combines an online booking system, interactive DOC Maps, hunting permits, and permissions management. Conservation programs include Predator Free 2050, 1080 predator control, Kauri dieback management, and species-specific recovery programs for kiwi, kākāpō, takahē, and albatross. Public engagement features include Royal Cam live streaming, iNaturalist species identification, volunteering opportunities, online training courses, and conservation education resources. The organization provides regulatory services for drone permits, concessions, and wildlife protection under CITES.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Great Walks Bookings Bookings for New Zealand's 11 premier multi-day walking tracks (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Heaphy Track, Kepler Track, Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Tongariro Northern Circuit, Whanganui Journey, Lake Waikaremoana, Paparoa Track, Rakiura Track, Hump Ridge Track). Sold per person per night through the online booking system.
• Conservation Campsites Over 300 campsites across forest settings, lakeshores and sandy beaches in New Zealand, available in tiered categories (Standard, Scenic, Serviced) with online booking.
• DOC Huts Network Network of over 950 huts of all shapes and sizes for backcountry explorers, with categories ranging from basic to serviced Great Walk huts. Online booking available.
• Paid Car Parking Paid car parking at three South Island conservation sites (Punakaiki, Franz Josef, Aoraki/Mount Cook) with half-hour charging increments and local permit options covering two vehicles per household.
• Hunting Permits Open area hunting permits and hunting dog permits for public conservation land, applied for online through DOC's permit system.
• Permissions, Concessions and Permits Permissions, concessions and licences for commercial activities, research, filming, events, wildlife interaction and CITES documentation on conservation land.
• Drone Permits Permits for recreational, commercial, and research drone use on public conservation land and waters.
• DOC Maps Interactive Platform Interactive online mapping tool that lets users find DOC key places, campsites, tracks, huts, and visitor centres across New Zealand with geospatial and 3D base map capabilities.
• Predator Free 2050 Programme National programme to eradicate the most harmful introduced predators (rats, stoats, possums) from New Zealand by 2050, comprising 20 landscape projects, science and research, mātauranga Māori, and island eradications.
• 1080 Predator Control (Biodegradable Bait) Aerially applied 1080 biodegradable bait used as the primary tool for controlling introduced predators (rats, stoats, possums) across large areas of public conservation land, protecting threatened native species and forest ecosystems.
• Kauri Dieback Disease Management Management of Phytophthora agathidicida (PA) pathogen threatening kauri forests, including the Tiakina Kauri national programme, track grading, cleaning stations, and track closures.
• Kiwi Conservation Programme Comprehensive kiwi conservation covering five species (brown kiwi, great spotted kiwi/roroa, little spotted kiwi, rowi, tokoeka), with Save the Kiwi partnership and Kiwi Accredited Handler certification.
• Conservation Dogs Programme Nationwide network of certified dog-handler teams that detect protected native species and unwanted pests, supporting species monitoring and biosecurity operations.
• DOC Community Fund (Pūtea Tautiaki Hapori) Funding programme (Pūtea Tautiaki Hapori) supporting community-led conservation projects on public and private land.
• Online Training Courses Free online courses covering Introduction to Natural Heritage, Lone Worker, Field Skills, Animal Ecology, Bird Identification, Wildlife Health, Biosecurity, and Kauri Ora hygiene.
• Royal Cam (Live Albatross Stream) Live stream of northern royal albatross at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head, providing public access to observe and learn about these seabirds.
• Conservation Volunteering Programme Volunteer programme offering activities across New Zealand, including international volunteer opportunities, filterable by region, type, time commitment and fitness level.
• Species Identification (iNaturalist NZ Partnership) Partnership with iNaturalist NZ platform enabling the public to upload species observations for expert identification, with DOC staff participating as identifiers.
• Native Animals Conservation (Species Recovery) Conservation programs for native fish, insects, birds, lizards, frogs, bats, and marine mammals, including species-specific programmes like Kākāpō Recovery and Takahē Recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Paid car parking pilot generated $1.5 million gross revenue in 7 months at 3 South Island sites
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered national, minor and flagship.

• Mental Health FoundationnationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026DOC has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation to promote a nature therapy campaign encouraging people to engage with nature during winter as a form of mental health support. The partnership cites research showing nature exposure supports wellbeing and helps 18-35 year olds build social connections. The campaign was launched July 1 with specific recommendations including putting out sugar water for birds, picking up rubbish, and joining community conservation activities.
• Morgan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016The Morgan Foundation co-funded the 2016 mouse eradication from Antipodes Island, working alongside DOC, WWF-New Zealand, Island Conservation and the New Zealand public. This was a collaborative island biosecurity project resulting in the successful removal of mice from the subantarctic island.
• WWF-New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016WWF-New Zealand co-funded the 2016 mouse eradication from Antipodes Island as part of a collaborative island biosecurity project with DOC, Morgan Foundation, Island Conservation and the New Zealand public.
• Island ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Island Conservation partnered with DOC on the 2016 Antipodes Island mouse eradication, providing technical expertise in island biosecurity and eradication operations as part of a multi-partner project.
• Save the KiwiflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Working in partnership with DOC since 1991, Save the Kiwi has raised and distributed more than $7 million to kiwi conservation projects across New Zealand. The partnership is one of DOC's longest-running and most significant species-specific conservation partnerships, supporting all kiwi species recovery efforts.
• Air New ZealandnationalGTM or Marketing PartnerAir New Zealand is a national partner with DOC for conservation and is proud to support DOC's Great Walks. The partnership promotes conservation tourism and provides transport connectivity to Great Walks destinations for domestic and international visitors.
• New Zealand Mountain Safety CouncilnationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC partners with the NZ Mountain Safety Council on outdoor safety messaging, including the Land Safety Code (five steps for staying safe outdoors), Plan My Walk app integration, and safety resources for day walking, hunting, and mountain biking on conservation land.
• Tiakina Kauri / Biosecurity New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries)nationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiakina Kauri is the national programme for kauri protection, based in Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). DOC is a collaborating agency with responsibility for managing kauri protection on public conservation land. The National Pest Management Plan 2022 brings together government (including DOC), Māori, councils and communities for kauri protection.
• Te Mana o te Taiao – Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity StrategynationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Mana o te Taiao – Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy (ANZBS) guides the way New Zealand protects and restores nature. DOC is the lead agency implementing aspects of this national biodiversity strategy, which is a collaborative framework across government, iwi/Māori and communities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Environment Agency (UK): UK statutory body with environmental regulatory and operational responsibilities spanning conservation, water quality, and waste. Comparable as a large government agency with online permitting, enforcement powers, and conservation partnerships.
• Parks Australia (Director of National Parks): Australian federal agency managing Commonwealth national parks and reserves. Comparable as a national statutory conservation agency with exclusive regulatory authority over protected areas, similar mandate around biodiversity protection, indigenous co-management (Traditional Owner partnerships), and outdoor recreation infrastructure.
• US National Park Service: US federal bureau within the Department of the Interior managing 400+ national parks, monuments, and recreation areas. Closest international analogue in scale and mandate — owns/operates visitor centres, campgrounds, huts/backcountry shelters, permits, conservation programmes, and partner-driven fundraising (National Park Foundation).

Direct peers

• NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage): Scottish Government's nature agency responsible for protected areas, species licensing, and biodiversity. Comparable statutory remit over national nature reserves, species protection permits (analogous to DOC's Wildlife Act role), outdoor recreation access, and conservation volunteer programmes.
• Forestry England: UK government body managing public forests, recreation, and biodiversity. Comparable combination of forest management, paid campsite and cabin accommodation, trail networks, species conservation, and visitor centre operations on publicly-owned land.
• Natural England: UK Government's statutory advisor on the natural environment, with responsibility for national trails, SSSI designations, species licensing, and conservation funding programmes. Closest UK analogue to DOC's regulatory and conservation mandate.
• Parks Canada: Canadian federal agency managing national parks, national historic sites, and marine conservation areas. Nearest peer in operational model — visitor centres, campgrounds, hut networks, online booking and reservation systems, species at risk recovery programmes, and indigenous co-management agreements with First Nations.

Regional players

• California State Parks: US state agency managing 280+ park units, including campgrounds, hiking trails, and natural reserves. Comparable in operating visitor centres, online reservation systems for campsites and lodging, hunting/fishing permit issuance, and species habitat protection on public land.
• Naturvårdsverket (Swedish EPA): Swedish Environmental Protection Agency with statutory responsibility for protected areas, species conservation, and outdoor recreation policy. Comparable as a national conservation regulator with permit issuance, species recovery programmes, and partnerships with indigenous Sámi communities.
• BC Parks (British Columbia): Provincial agency administering 1,000+ provincial parks, recreation sites, trails, and campgrounds. Directly comparable operating model — online campsite booking system, hut/cabin accommodation, hiking trail management, hunting permit administration, and conservation programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Conservation