Posted 19th July 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ
Just some observations on the Department of Conservation concessions debate in Fridays Paper.
I think the real problem is that of mandate.
It started when the Department of Conservation was turned into the department of homeland environment security
and away from recreation after the Cave Creek disaster. Since then there has been no real govt organization focusing on the
fundamental reason for our national parks exist in the first place and that vacuum has been a bit of an open wound.
I guess because tourist visitor numbers are cyclical and Kiwis are so horrendously overworked they now have very little time for
recreation anymore, it makes sense in a way to ignore the problem and just run out the clock, a perfect strategy for a cash stripped
demoralised department one would think?
It is also sad that the people of Te Anau have been waiting over a decade on the clock for a thumbs up for Cycle Trails in their national park
and have now had to look to the Snowdon Forest for recreation opportunities.
I must say I some how doubt that the visionaries who founded our national parks did so to lock off all the best scenic places from the 99 percent but
that is what the effect is in 2019.
Just some observations on the Department of Conservation concessions debate in Fridays Paper.
I think the real problem is that of mandate.
It started when the Department of Conservation was turned into the department of homeland environment security
and away from recreation after the Cave Creek disaster. Since then there has been no real govt organization focusing on the
fundamental reason for our national parks exist in the first place and that vacuum has been a bit of an open wound.
I guess because tourist visitor numbers are cyclical and Kiwis are so horrendously overworked they now have very little time for
recreation anymore, it makes sense in a way to ignore the problem and just run out the clock, a perfect strategy for a cash stripped
demoralised department one would think?
It is also sad that the people of Te Anau have been waiting over a decade on the clock for a thumbs up for Cycle Trails in their national park
and have now had to look to the Snowdon Forest for recreation opportunities.
I must say I some how doubt that the visionaries who founded our national parks did so to lock off all the best scenic places from the 99 percent but
that is what the effect is in 2019.
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