Ngā Kairauhī Papa | Forever protected
We work in partnership with landowners to protect the most treasured areas on their land with covenants. Each covenant is tailored to reflect the wishes of the landowner. If you are interested in protecting an area on your land, please contact your regional representative.
Throughout the process, your Rep will work closely with you to ensure that your land is protected in accordance with your intentions, and guide you on how best to look after the values you have protected.
Since 1 July 2025, there have been changes to how we process new areas for protection. You can find more information about those changes below.
Due to funding constraints, this financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026) QEII is unable to process as many covenants as we have in past years.
The significant reduction in new covenants this year is disappointing for us and the many landowners hoping to partner with us to protect special areas on their properties.
We’re working hard to ensure that our new process for this year will enable us to protect the highest quality areas, while also providing an avenue to protect important areas where landowner/external funding can cover the cost of covenanting.
We will be able to process a limited number of new QEII covenants during the year, prioritising the protection of areas with very high open space values, with a focus on biodiversity.
New covenants will be considered in two ‘funding rounds’ (November 2025 and May 2026), where proposals will be assessed against a range of criteria, including biodiversity values, strategic values, and value for money.
Please note that areas that meet our usual covenanting threshold can be considered outside of the above process if they can be undertaken at no cost to QEII – this would require a $7k processing fee for the first covenant on a property and $1k for each additional covenant to cover QEII costs, in addition to fencing and survey.
If you feel you have an especially significant area, please let your regional rep know. We are looking for large, intact ecosystems that provide habitat for threatened species or areas that have nationally significant open space values.
As above, areas that meet our usual covenanting threshold can be considered if they can be undertaken at no cost to QEII. This may be an additional option for you to consider. Please contact your regional rep to discuss.
Not sure who your rep is for your region? Visit our ‘Find your rep’ page.
Since funding is our main constraint on how many covenants we can process this year, any additional funds would be welcome.
If you would like to make a donation towards new covenants, please feel free to do so here or get in touch with Mel Keith (027 295 5369 or mkeith@qeii.org.nz)
If your area for protection is confirmed to meet our threshold for becoming a QEII covenant, your Rep will guide you through the covenanting process.
Your Rep will meet with you, visit your land, discuss the covenanting process, and identify the values of the area you would like to protect.
Your Rep will talk with you about what you want to achieve with protection, and whether there are specific things you would like to permit or prohibit in the protected area.
Based on these discussions, your Rep will work with QEII National Trust head office and assess whether the proposed covenant meets our criteria for protection.
If your enquiry is successful, your Rep will develop a proposal on how we will partner with you to protect your land.
Your proposal will then be considered for approval by QEII National Trust. A limited number of new QEII covenants will be considered in two ‘funding rounds’ (November 2025 and May 2026).
If your proposal is approved, we work with you to arrange the relevant legal documents.
The next step is usually for you to fence the protected area, which your Rep will inspect to confirm it is stock-proof. We also arrange for a survey of the covenant boundaries. Once this is approved by you and us, the covenant will be registered on your land title, securing the protection forever. You will then become a life member of the QEII National Trust.
We recognise that privacy is a significant concern for landowners.
Personal information is dealt with strictly in accordance with our privacy policy. Information about your protected area will not be given out without your permission.
