New Zealand's conservation management system will undergo a modern upgrade, welcomed by Tourism Industry Aotearoa.
The tourism industry’s peak body, Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) has welcomed the opportunity to share views on how to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system.
Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) has released two discussion documents for public consultation. They cover a range of proposals aiming to protect natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa was very pleased to see DOC has opened consultation on modernising conservation land management to streamline concessions. There is also a proposal on access charging for some public conservation land.
“We know that the concession system has been broken for some time. We are driven to ensure the process for getting a concession is clearer, faster, and more flexible. It should also provide greater certainty for operators,” TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram said.
“There's a great deal to digest, we will look carefully at the proposals and we'll be getting the views of our members as we prepare our submission. It's very important that consideration of access charging also recognises that the International Visitor Levy is now NZD $100 and will generate tens of millions of dollars of funding for conservation and visitor management on the estate.”
The Department of Conservation said in a statement that there was further potential for Access fees than already used.
“Access fees are widely used internationally to help maintain popular sites sustainably, including by our closest neighbour, Australia. This could provide us with a valuable tool for securing pūtea (monies) for conservation and infrastructure in areas experiencing high visitor demand.”
By updating the legislation, the Department of Conservation has aimed to create a new system that protects New Zealand’s natural heritage, supports sustainable tourism, builds economic resilience, and strengthens partnerships with local Iwi.
Consultation closes in late-February 2025.
More news here.
