SNA

This term for Social Studies we have been learning about the current issue we call SNA. SNA converts to Significant Natural Area.  Significant Natural Area are areas containing significant and native vegetation or habitats. This is a current issue because of how SNA effects local land owners. In order to protect our native plants and habitats the government is putting multiple restrictions around what you can do to your land that contains significant natural area.

Some restrictions include ...

• No fires around SNA
• No cutting down SNA
• No building around or on that area
• No walking, playing or any physical events that may harm the SNA
• Don't do any harm to the SNA

If you break any of the rules or breach the restrictions you could go to jail for 2 years.

The Government is pushing really hard on local government to get this through. Local landowners are furious because a lot of there land contains SNA so they basically no longer have ownership of that piece of land.

AN EXAMPLE :

If someone buys a big piece of land for maybe around 200,000 dollars to build a family home on it, but it is covered in SNA, you will no longer be able to build the house. Even though that was the purpose of you buying that property if it contains SNA you cannot do anything to harm that area.

Maori's in particular are very upset about this. If you have a look at all of the areas containing SNA, most of them will be Maori land. So the government basically now own and have authority of the Maori land.

Although this new district Plan on SNA has a lot of cons there are some pros. The whole reason the Government is doing this whole thing in the first place is to preserve the land for future generations.

PROS OF SNA

The Pros of SNA are that if we abide by there rules then the native plants and habitats that are in that land will thrive and spread. The purpose of SNA is to prevent the extinction of rare species and ecosystems, allowing insects and birds to move across productive landscapes. We need to effectively restore our native ecosystems.

In Social Studies we needed to answer a few questions.

What does SNA FNDC stand for? SNA FNDC stands for Significant Natural Area, Far North District Council. Far North District is home to a range of unique landscapes, species and habitats, many of which are under threat. The council is needs to protect them through a District Plan. While there are already rules in the current District Plan to manage these habitats, they are now required to identify these areas and manage them more specifically in a new District Plan.

What is the FND council trying to develop?

The Far North District Council is trying to develop a new land full of areas with SNA. They are trying to stop us from destroying the small areas of SNA that we have left to preserve and spread for future generations to enjoy. They are developing a district plan. The District Plan is about sustainable land use, environmental protection and enabling growth in the most suitable places. It is a balancing act. Its purpose is to protect our environment, historic places and cultural taonga for future generations

What restrictions does this mean for landowners? Landowners can not touch any where near where that SNA is located on their property. They can not do any harm and it means that you can't light fires around that area. If you bought land to build things on it and it is covered in SNA you cannot cut down or harm those trees or plants. So the land that you brought, you cannot do anything with it if it is covered in SNA. In some case you may not even be able to plant exotic flowers or other vegetation if the government says so. Basically you cannot do anything to harm that SNA.

How could this move affect peoples family's? If you and your family buy a big block and have plans to build a building or a family home on it and if it has acres of trees and SNA you and your family cannot go in with your original plans of building. If that land cost 500,000 you cannot touch any part of that land. The Government if basically taking away your land rights. Government have full authority on Native land even if it is on your land. A few weeks ago there was a march in Kaikohe on a Friday. Thousands of angry residents, farmers, hapū and iwi groups have descended on Kaikohe in Northland to protest what they call "modern-day land grabs".

Who does SNA effect? SNA affects everyone who has land containing SNA. Sna has been going on for ages. If you have SNA on your land you cannot remove that SNA or touch any land near there. The government is trying to preserve our current SNA. You and your family could lose your land rights. That’s why there was a march last friday. Around 8000 letters have been sent to residents explaining that up to 100 percent of their private property will be considered an SNA. On Friday morning, the group combined with hundreds of concerned farmers, residents and iwi from across the district.