Study and collection of natural materials

GW has a permit system in place for anyone who wishes to collect any material and/or carry out research within our parks and forests.

You need to complete and send us an application for either a Low Impact or a High Impact Permit.

Generally the Low Impact Permit will be sufficient.  However, use the High Impact Permit application if the activity involves:

• commercial use of the material
• collection of DNA samples (except for exotic species and/or purely taxonomic classification purposes)
• genetic modification
• material being removed from New Zealand
• rare or endangered species
• significant adverse effects on a species or its habitat
• any other invasive collection methods
• any other significant effect

What to do

Fill out pages 1-4 of the Low Impact application form or pages 1-5 of the High Impact application form. Then drop it in at our Upper Hutt office or send it to:

The Environmental Technician
Greater Wellington Parks
P O Box 40847
Upper Hutt.

There is no processing fee for the Low Impact Application form.  A $100 (GST inclusive) processing fee must accompany the High Impact Application form – we will not process the application without your payment.

Each application received will be individually assessed by GW and tangata whenua.  If your application is successful, you will be sent the completed and signed copy of the permit.  When you receive the permit, sign in the space provided at the end of the permit.  Any permits that is not signed by a GW parks and forests environmental staff member and the applicant is deemed invalid.

When conducting the activity, you must carry the permit with you at all times.

If you are unsuccessful in your application, you will be notified by a Greater Wellington staff member in writing or by telephone.

We will process the applications as quickly as possible. Please feel free to phone Owen to discuss the progress of your application.

For further information contact

Owen Spearpoint
Environmental Technician
04 526 5342 (office)
027 285 8083
Owen.Spearpoint@gw.govt.nz