Monday, September 10, 2018

NZs Department of Conservation blues

Posted 26th of August 2018 to the Otago Daily Times newspaper Dunedin NZ


The tragic deaths on the Gertrude Saddle near Milford Sound in your recent publication are explainable from a historic perspective. 

Tragic deaths might well be exacerbated by Instagram inspired explorations of our national parks but one has to point out that the management of tourism points of interest in the DOC leaves something to be desired, clearly the desire to interact with our parks is stronger that the ability to stop it.
Also it is a unwritten rule in our park management that only strong rugged individuals get free reign in the conservation estate.

The fact that the tourism boom is not being dealt with competently is partly due to this culture in the department but also that creative people are not wanted or rewarded in said organisation.
I have cataloged and posted countless improvements that could be used to improved the Fiordland Experience over the years based on local & visitor conversations.

The lack of transparency is number one followed closely by restructuring and incentives for “hands on” tourism to complement that of the private sector.
  
Also stop punishing the management for every accident, it just makes them paranoid... We can’t make them wrap everyone in cotton wool if people desire to go outdoors. 


 

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