The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) is a statutory New Zealand organisation independent from Government and managed by a Board of Directors. It was established in 1977 by the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Act 1977 "to encourage and promote, for the benefit of New Zealand, the provision, protection, preservation and enhancement of open space."
The organisation enables landowners to protect special features on their land through its open space covenants. QEII also owns 28 properties, including Aroha Island, which collectively protect 1,582 hectares of significant habitat. These have mostly been gifted to the Trust. Stewardship of these properties is assisted by local communities and management committees.
Open space is defined in the Act as any area of land or body of water that serves to preserve or to facilitate the preservation of any landscape of aesthetic, cultural, recreational, scenic, scientific, or social interest or value.
The Act enables QEII to:
- negotiate and administer open space covenants (or protection agreements) with landowners,
- acquire and manage land,
- provide financial grants for open space projects,
- advocate open space protection through advice, research and information.
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