The Department is the central government agency that conserves and manages New Zealand’s natural, historic and cultural heritage to provide increasing benefit to all New Zealanders.
The Central Otago Area is one of four Areas in the Otago Conservancy and its office is located in the township of Alexandra
The tectonic history operating on schist rocks has produced the distinctive range and basin topography of Central Otago, while glaciation has contributed to the landforms of the lakes. Within these landscapes, heritage sites (especially from the goldfields era) and tracts of indigenous grassland and mountain land provide settings for a nationally important tourism industry, and for a full range of recreational opportunities.
Through protection work in the Crown pastoral high country, public conservation lands are increasing in Otago, bringing increased benefits to society from ecosystem services and economic activity based on recreational opportunities.
The major public conservation lands in Central Otago comprise the emerging Kopuwai Conservation Park on the Old Man and Old Woman Ranges, Oteake Conservation Park on the Hawkdun, Ida, St Mary's and St Bathans Ranges and conservation areas on the Dunstan Mountains and in the Manorburn headwaters. Central Otago holds a number of significant ecosytems containing a range of associated special plant and animal species.
Significant features managed by the Department include much of the early gold mining history and the Otago Central Rail Trail.
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