Managing recreation and tourism in New Zealand mountains

Abstract

New Zealand is a very mountainous country with sparsely populated mountain lands. While large tracts are held in private ownership used in pastoral production, the majority is state owned. New Zealand's protected natural area system encompasses the Southern Alps / Ka Tiritiri o te Moana and the North Island peaks, with the highest mountains in the country within Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, a World Heritage Site. Thirty percent of New Zealand's land area falls within the protected natural area system, managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Within these mountain lands, there is a range of mountain recreation opportunities including skiing, alpine climbing, hiking, wilderness fishing and hunting. Aircraft-based activities, such as scenic overflights, heli-hiking and glacier skiing dominate some mountain regions. Ski fields represent small enclaves of high-level facility and infrastructure development within an environment that is largely unmodified wilderness. To facilitate high-quality recreational experiences and protect the natural mountain environment, DOC provides facilities such as huts and tracks, and applies management techniques to minimize visitor conflict and biophysical impacts. Commercial activities in parks are managed through concessions that place controls upon these activities.