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The New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) assesses the threat status of New Zealand’s indigenous species at a national scale (Townsend et al 2008, Rolfe et al 2022). Threat rankings are used for prioritising conservation actions, research, and monitoring. The NZTCS is effective at the national scale, but regional councils need a local lens for managing and protecting biodiversity within their regions. This has led to the development of a Regional Threat Classification System (RTCS). While the Department of Conservation (DOC) is tasked with managing indigenous species nationally, regional and local councils have a statutory obligation to manage the habitats of Threatened species locally under the Resource Management Act 1991 and National Policy Statements for Freshwater Management (2020) and Indigenous Biodiversity (2023). A regional conservation status list aids the ability of councils to meet these obligations.

Author: P Crisp, N Dunn, A Perrie, B Mulling, S Morar and D Kissick