New Zealand suspends mapping and protection of Significant Natural Areas for 3 years under environmental legislation.

New Zealand's government has suspended the requirement for local councils to map and protect Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) under environmental legislation for three years. SNAs are areas of valuable indigenous biodiversity, including native forests and habitats of native wildlife, which are subject to restrictions on development. This move was part of the Act-National coalition agreement and also involves reviewing the operation of existing designated SNAs.