Doc boss suggests Great Walks charges

Visitor numbers are up on the country's Great Walks. Photo Getty
Visitor numbers are up on the country's Great Walks. Photo Getty
Director-general of the Department of Conservation Lou Sanson says it may be time to start charging for the use of the country’s Great Walks.

Lou Sanson.
Lou Sanson.

At a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce breakfast in the resort yesterday, Mr Sanson said while the Great Walks brand had "exploded", it was creating some problems.

A report prepared 18 months ago said 30% of international visitors came to New Zealand to connect with nature. That figure was now 50%. As tourism numbers increased in New Zealand, it was important to protect the country’s point of difference - its natural environment - he said.

In March he took the United States ambassador to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a 19.4km one-day trek between the Mangatepopo Valley and Ketatahi Rd in the North Island.

"Every time we stopped we were surrounded by 40 people. That is not my New Zealand. We have got to work this stuff out — these are the real challenges."

On the Routeburn Track numbers were increasing by 10% annually and 70% of the users came from overseas.

Introducing differential charges on the Great Walks was one  possible  way to alleviate pressure.

"We have got to think [about that]. ‘‘I think New Zealand has to have this debate about how we’re going to do bed taxes, departure charges.

"We have got to work our way around this.‘‘I think a differential charge [is an option] — internationals [pay] $100, we get a 60% discount."

Mr Sanson said the legislation did not allow the department to cap numbers, or charge people for anything other than the use of facilities.

"We have got ‘freedom of access’ [so] we have to change our legislation [to do that].

"There would be a lot of debates about that [but] I think we’ve got to have that debate.

"I love these debates because we’re going to have to do something. This goes to the heart of being a Kiwi.

"The differential charge, some ministers say that looks a bit Third World-ish ...  I quite like it."

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

 

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