The government is celebrating faster processing of applications for the use of conservation sites, including using AI.
In a statement, Minister of Conservation Tama Patakha said the application backlog had dropped from 1,300 in September last year to 550.
He said the AI was being used to help scan documents, and that one-time drone permits only took five business days compared to previous “weeks.”
“We achieve these results through smarter and more efficient systems and processes, including a data-driven approach and new technologies such as AI tools that help scan legal documents,” he said.
“Transforming applications faster means that businesses are more sure they are faster and more secure. DOCs allow for a wide range of activities that connect people with nature and support the local economy, but they reduce proposals that cannot avoid, improve or mitigate the impact on nature and heritage.
“Around a third of the application documents have been processed, and February is tourism-related, the second largest exporter, processing over 380 tourism-related applications over the past three months, including guiding activities in Fjorland and fish concessions for helicopter landings on the North Island.”
While most applications for use of the protected area are for tourism, this month the Department of Conservation also approved an application for 1ha of Quarry rocks required for important roads and flood protection infrastructure projects in the southwest.
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