Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Occasional Paper series
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Item Parks or playgrounds? An analysis of the concept of Tongariro National Park(Lincoln University. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism., 1990) Hedley, SimonNational parks are cultural constructions embodying and reflecting the values of society. To date research on parks in New Zealand has focused upon surveys of users and analyses of historical data. Noble (1987) identified the need for a study of national parks along the lines of the Darling and Eichhorn's (1969) study of the US national park system, in which the authors asked the provocative question "What is a national park?". Following their lead I examine the purpose of national parks using indepth interviews with the administering authorities and selected commercial users of Tongariro National Park. I argue that the perceptions of the majority of the commercial concessionaires and users regarding the purpose of Tongariro National Park are incompatible with specified fundamental objectives of national parks. Secondly, I argue that national park administrators are not neutral agents regulating use under the National Parks Act (1980). While there is no evidence, or suggestion, of management practices which breach the National Parks Act (1980) or the Tongariro National Park Management Plans Vols I, II, Ill, the system within which the administrators operate has accepted central government "market efficiency" ideologies and policies. Administrators are increasingly dependent upon concessionaires for the day-to-day operating costs of the park. This relationship and fundamental conflicts in perceptions of use threaten traditional objectives and the future of national parks.Item Tourism and sustainability: Unfolding local identities; shifting global challenges: Papers presented in the Tourism Strand of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa-New Zealand Conference 1995(Lincoln University. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism., 1996) Berno, Tracey; Berno, TraceyIn recognition of the importance of informed debate on the issue of sustainability in general, the Sociological Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand adopted for the theme of their 1995 conference in Akaroa (1-3 December), "Unfolding Local Identities; Shifting Global Challenges". One stream of that conference addressed issues concerning sustainability and tourism in New Zealand. This Occasional Paper presents four of the papers given as part of the Tourism Stream of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand's 1995 Conference.Item Leisure and recreation in New Zealand: A research register (1974-1991)(Lincoln University. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism., 1992) Rickerby, Bronwyn; King, Jeanette; Cushman, Grant; Simpson, ClareA register of research on leisure and recreation is important to researchers, practitioners and students as well as to the generral public. The value of such a register is enhanced when it is assembled in concise format for easy reference and when it is an extension of similar projects from previous years. This register builds usefully on, and complements the earlier bibliographies of Jorgensen (1974), Neave (1977) and Middleton (1981), all of which are referenced in the present publication. The major aim of this project is to make available to researchers, and others interested in research, a listing of much of the research which has been conducted on this topic since 1974. The volume will assist researchers to locate reports or papers of interest and for their work. It provides a reasonably comprehensive picture of recreation research activity in New Zealand. Leisure and recreation research in New Zealand has been undertaken by a wide range of individuals and organisations, with much of this research not being readily accessible. Access to this infonnation was gained by researchers and practitioners drawing our attention to people and organisations involved in relevant research which otherwise might have been neglected. In addition the papers and reports held by libraries, unpublished material and research in progress is included in this volume. It is envisaged that the register, and in particular the researcher/practitioner listing, will have the useful outcome of putting researchers in touch with each other. Experience suggests that direct discourse between researchers is often as valuable as reading formal research reports. Leisure and recreation has been defined in the broadest terms. embracing recreational tourism and travel, sport and physical education, arts and cultural activities, outdoor recreation, home-based leisure, non-formal learning, and including those activities and experiences not always recognised as recreational, such as drinking, gambling and vandalism. Similarly, the settings and situations are many and varied, including leisure centres, sports fields, libraries, urban sub-divisions, rivers, ski-fields, national parks, beaches, hotels, restaurants, botanical gardens, zoos and shopping centres to name but a few. The disciplinary focus includes research relating to the social, natural and medical sciences, as well as the practical application of these. The nature of research has been interpreted widely, and includes not only empirical research, but also work which is conceptual and has a policy focus.Item A review of trends in walkway use: selected New Zealand and overseas findings(Lincoln University. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism., 1990) Balfour, RichardIn response to pending changes in Walkways Administration, the Hillary Commission has asked for a review of current New Zealand literature on Walkway Users, and to compare this with overseas trends. This study was undertaken over a six week period, during which literature was sought that applied to the research objectives.Item Liberal ideology and its relationship to leisure theory and policy: The case of Australia(Lincoln University. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism., 1991) Cushman, Grant; Purvis, Alison; Rickards, DeidreIn Australia there has been little scholarly attention given to political ideology in relation to leisure. A major reason is the dominant influence of liberal concepts and ideas. An understanding of liberalism is essential for developing an understanding of the ways in which leisure within Australia has been conceptualized by theorists and applied in practice. Particular attention is given to the interpretation under liberal ideology of the growth and development of commercial leisure, and the role of the state, and the limitations that this approach has in leisure provision and opportunities. The paper urges that attention be given to re-constructing an adequate ideology of leisure which recognises the problems associated with liberalism as the dominant political ideology in driving leisure policy, and develops a more complete and realistic understanding of the complex flows of costs and benefits of leisure to different groups in society.