Managing biodiversity in the Waikato region, Aotearoa New Zealand

A case study approach using discourse analysis of key planning documents is used to describe and review mechanisms used in 2020 by the Waikato Regional Council to manage biodiversity in the Waikato region, Aotearoa New Zealand. It sets out two proposed national-level tools that will change how biodiversity is managed in Aotearoa New Zealand. The case study assesses Waikato Regional Council planning documents against the Aichi Global Biodiversity Convention Targets. It also identifies a number of important barriers to better management of biodiversity in the Waikato region and outlines how these barriers could be addressed. The research was undertaken in the first six months of 2020 and provides a snapshot of the state of play at that time before the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2020 was finalised. It was found that the Waikato Regional Council appears to be well positioned to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Convention Goals. However, realisation of the Aichi goals through on-the-ground implementation is likely to be compromised due to a lack of adequate funding for both planning and implementation at the district level. Transparent targets or measures of success also threaten to compromise good implementation. Options for addressing these barriers include an increase in funding for district-level planning and implementation, plus strengthening alignment of existing planning tools (such as the Waikato Regional Plan) and measures of success with the Draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity and the draft New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy.