The New Zealand Conservation Management Group (CMaG: ARAZPA NZ) is the recognised representative organisation which acts, on behalf of its members, as the primary liaison and co-ordinating body for the native captive industry.

CMaG: ARAZPA NZ is the New Zealand branch of the regional zoo and aquarium association - ARAZPA (the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria).

CMaG: ARAZPA NZ also supports it members through regular species co-ordinators' reports, workshops and an annual conference.

In June 2004 the CMaG membership voted to merge with the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria(ARAZPA).

CMaG has instigated this merger in the interests of forming a unified representative voice throughout Australasia on all aspects of captive management. It is felt that CMaG will benefit from the services provided by the NZ Program Officer (based in Auckland) and other ARAZPA staff members based in the Sydney office,with regard to "best-practice' species management. Both CMaG and ARAZPA will also benefit by the strengthening of a single industry voice on issues relating to captive management of NZ native species, particularly with regard to representations to government.

Under the merger the New Zealand Species Management Plan (NZSMP) will be established as the model for captive management programmes. The NZSMP aims to maximise the benefit of captive populations for conservation and to fulfil the requirements of the Department of Conservation's policies.

Though CMaG: ARAZPA NZ operates as a branch of ARAZPA it continues to be a distinct entity, with a management committee elected by (and from) its membership in New Zealand as is and it will continue to be driven by its New Zealand members.

For further details on ARAZPA visit www.arazpa.org.au