Management for recreation in the Summit Road region of the Port Hills, Canterbury: a preliminary study

Abstract

This study examines the use of the Summit Road area for recreation, and the demands this is making on management and administration.

Recreational use focuses on the Summit Road and the adjacent areas of public and private land. Tracks and specific topographical features (e.g. rock-climbing and hang-gliding sites) serve to localise the distribution of off-road use. The scenic amenities of the immediate and distant landscapes provide the main attractions for recreation. At present, the area is most important as a passive recreational resource for local residents and the tourist industry.

Present management policies emphasise the regional importance of the area for open space recreation and the local importance for farming activities. The Regional Scheme and the Summit Road Protection Act (1963) maintain control over local policies for development in the area.

The small and scattered nature of the reserves has encouraged demand for access to private land for recreation. Any further promotion of the area for recreation should acknowledge the importance of the reserves and open pastoral land in maintaining a suitable landscape. Regional financial and administrative support will be needed for their continued protection.