The interface between recreation, tourism, and wilderness, in New Zealand's conservation estate

Abstract

This report focuses on an increasingly contentious issue; the mounting pressure being placed on New Zealand's wilderness, due to its rising popularity for a diversity of recreational and tourism activities. There is an increasing multiplicity in uses associated with wilderness in New Zealand. This is resulting in a high degree of tension across a diverse range of people for whom 'wilderness' signifies different things: its social and personal value for non-commercial recreation, its economic value for tourism and commercial recreation, and its ecological value for conservation. Understanding the multiple values, perceptions and interests associated with wilderness, is crucial for resource managers, as it has serious ramifications for the future management of New Zealand's wild natural landscapes. The purpose of this report is to identify the key issues concerning the interface between recreation, tourism and wilderness in New Zealand's conservation estate. The focus is on the role of knowledge, information and interpretation in the way the issue is being framed. as well as in ways' it could be addressed. This includes the analysis of the roles and influence of different socio-cultural perspectives and interests. as well as examination of underlying assumptions, contradictions, and biases associated with the issue. The overall objective of this report is not to develop an 'ultimate' solution to this issue, but to broadly scope its different facets and provide guidance on how the issue could be addressed in the future. Thus the research strategy in Section 5 has been designed to facilitate the development of processes for formulating future strategies to address the lssue.