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The sentiments behind United leader Peter Dunne's call for the abolition of the Department of Conservation are understandable, but his solution is unnecessary. The law does not need to change, but DoC's performance does.
This is the reaction of national outdoor recreation advocate Public Access New Zealand (PANZ) to Mr. Dunne's call for DoC to be scrapped and replaced by a Department of Outdoor Recreation.
PANZ agrees with Mr. Dunne that the present management of the great outdoors in New Zealand is unbalanced, but there is already a department mandated to be an advocate for both the natural environment and recreational values - DoC.
As well as its conservation role, DoC already has a statutory duty to "foster" recreation", as distinct from only "allowing" tourism*, PANZ spokesman and researcher Bruce Mason said . However, because of past governments' stingy funding, DoC has moved towards fostering tourism as a means of generating revenue. Most recreational users believe this has been at the expense of outdoor recreation and the environment.
Its perverse that DoC now only seems to equate recreation with the building of facilities, particularly elaborate ones that best serve the interests of the tourism industry. This generates concessionaire revenue for the department.
"Whatever happened to ensuring that the public has freedom of enjoyment of parks so that they can receive 'in full measure' the inspiration, recreation, and enjoyment of our wonderful natural areas** ?", Mr. Mason asks.
Outdoor recreation's primary values are self discovery, skills enhancement, and the fostering of a healthy relationship with the environment. Equity requires ready opportunities for everyone no matter their economic circumstances. The majority of recreationists only require, and can only afford, basic facilities, if any.
PANZ believes that DoC, as manager of public lands, should be focusing on planning to ensure the maintenance of a diverse range of recreational opportunities, while ensuring protection of the environment. These days it seems that the only planning DoC does is for expensive facilities and 'Great Walks', inviting tourism development, and for removing low-cost tracks and huts in back country areas. Mr. Mason, a former national park ranger, believes this is a sad outcome for a public-service department and its many dedicated staff.
It is little wonder that the resultant sense of alienation gives rise to the kinds of demands expressed by Mr. Dunn.
The necessary balance between conservation and recreation has already been struck in the legislation covering national parks, reserves, and conservation areas. Consequently PANZ doesn't believe that there is an inherent conflict between the two objectives requiring DoC to be split up. What DoC needs is firm direction from Government.
One part of that direction could be a change of name to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, to provide a daily reminder to staff that they have dual responsibilities.
Conservation Boards have become 'toothless tigers' as public watchdogs over DoC, with behind-the-scenes deals with iwi and the tourism industry struck well before the boards are invited to comment, with these same interests represented on the boards as well. This is a reflection of the lack of balance Mr. Dunne has referred to.
Footnotes:
* Section 6 Conservation Act 1987
** Section 4 National Parks Act 1980
APPENDIX
Press Release: United New Zealand
21/07/00
United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, wants the Department of Conservation abolished.
Mr. Dunne told the annual conference of the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council in Nelson this afternoon that New Zealanders' rights to enjoy the environment were running an unacceptable second to rigid conservation values.
"The present set-up for the management of the great outdoors in New Zealand because is unbalanced."
"We say there is consequently a need to bring both strands more closely together, through the establishment of one government department with responsibility for the twin values of recreation and conservation, to restore the balance and to get around the division presently occurring."
"Under this plan, the present Department of Conservation with its narrow charter of conservation advocacy would be disbanded, and replaced by a new Department of Outdoor Recreation mandated to be an advocate for both the natural environment and genuine recreational values," Mr. Dunne said.
Mr. Dunne said a balance had to be struck between the enjoyment of recreational fishing as a relaxing and refreshing pastime, and the protection of species and the natural environment, but this was not happening at present under existing structures.
28 July, 1996
Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ
Public Access New Zealand
Two national recreation organisations
have had reports that Government is about to introduce special
National Development Act-style legislation to allow ownership
of South Island national parks and high country Crown lands to
pass from the Crown.
Federated Mountain Clubs and Public Access New Zealand today said
that there are consistent reports derived from official sources
that Government is well advanced in a settlement with Ngai Tahu
and that Government does not intend to allow the public to have
meaningful input before a deal is struck.
Federated Mountain Clubs President Owen Cox and PANZ spokesman
Bruce Mason are concerned that Government has failed to honour
previous undertakings for a public tenure review process for the
Greenstone Valley, Elfin Bay and Routeburn Stations near Queenstown.
The stations are being held for 'possible' settlement with Ngai
Tahu. PANZ recently released its own tenure to spur the Government
into honouring its promises to consult the public over the future
of these Crown lands.
Of great concern to FMC and PANZ is the postponement and sudden
cancellation of meetings between the Office of Treaty Settlements
and the groups concerning settlement of Ngai Tahu land claims.
The Office claimed that they were in early days of negotiations,
and "therefore have little of substance to report".
However indications are that negotiations are well advanced. Government
and Ngai Tahu have stated that they want a settlement before the
general election.
Ngai Tahu have also stated that they want freehold title to national
park and Crown land, which is prevented by current legislation.
If this is part of the deal being struck then special legislation
would be needed.
Mr Cox and Mr Mason called on the Prime Minister to come clean
over Government's real intentions.
"We would like to be proved wrong, however Government's secretive
approach to this issue gives credence to the belief that public
ownership and control over national parks and other outstanding
recreational areas is in jeopardy", they concluded.