Along with other natural areas, nationally and internationally, Mount Aspiring National Park faces many challenges due to increasing use at some sites, development pressure, and threats from plant and animal pests. Climate change and its impact on indigenous plants and animals, and public use, may pose future challenges.
Past park management experience and public comment received during preparation of this plan indicate several key issues that need to be addressed to give clear management direction for the future. Of primary importance is controlling introduced plants and animals that threaten natural ecosystems. Management of public use, including concessionaire activities, is essential to ensure that the remote and wilderness qualities for which the park is renowned are not lost.
Preservation and public use
As required by the Act, Mount Aspiring National Park is managed primarily to preserve indigenous plants, animals and natural features, and where consistent with preserving these values, for public use and enjoyment.
Those two ideals are not always compatible. Section 4 (2) of the Act identifies matters that may cause conflict between competing uses or users. In general the public shall have freedom of entry and access, subject to the preservation of the natural environment, and public safety.
People are likely to have differing views on the activities, facilities or level of use that should be provided in this and other national parks. This plan aims to minimise any conflicts by, in part, providing for a range of appropriate opportunities and experiences in different parts of the park, while always giving prime consideration to its primary purpose.
The plan’s objectives and policies for public use reflect and aim to preserve the park’s special qualities. Despite being located alongside key tourist destinations, and with growing pressures on some parts of the park, it has largely retained its wilderness character and natural values. It provides opportunities for multi-day tramping trips for the self-reliant in remote, untracked country, different in character to much of adjoining Fiordland National Park and the conservation lands to the west. These opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. There is concern that tourism developments and increased aircraft noise could threaten these values.
As far as possible, a range of recreational activities compatible with preserving natural and historic values may be provided in the park.
Different opportunities are, however, provided for in the various zones. A greater range is usually available in the front country zone and easily accessible sites in the back country zone than in the more remote areas.
The Olivine Wilderness Area is a significant area of the park and is buffered by the remote zone. As required by legislation, tracks and huts are not provided and aircraft use for recreational users is not permitted in the wilderness area.
Many of this plan’s provisions that relate to public use resemble those in other national park management plans. There are differences though, that reflect Mount Aspiring National Park’s uniqueness, the specific threats it faces and the special significance it has to both the region and New Zealand as a whole.
Much of the remote zone will have little aircraft activity for most of the year. The provisions relating to aircraft activity in this plan aim to retain Mount Aspiring National Park’s special character and its remote, quiet, and undeveloped values. While they may have the effect of limiting the more remote areas of the park to self-reliant outdoor recreationists, who have the ability and inclination to reach the remote zone on foot, in other areas of the park there are many opportunities for those who require or prefer to use aircraft, and wish to use more developed facilities.
In assessing appropriate activity or development in the park, consideration has been given to what is available elsewhere in the region, including on adjacent land managed by the department. There is no intention of providing for the full spectrum of recreational activities. There are many locations other than in the park for activities such as 4-wheel-driving and commercial thrill-seeking activities, and they are generally not provided for in the park.
Control of introduced plants and animals
The Act requires that introduced species be exterminated as far as possible. The approach taken for each species that threatens park values may differ according to national priorities, resources and the actual and potential threat within particular areas of the park. While extermination of some species is desirable, it may not be possible within the life of this plan.
Introduced plants and animals may also impact on the park’s value as a soil, water and forest conservation area, and management of introduced species for their recreational values may impact on the welfare in general of the park.
Sports fish and wild animals such as deer are valued as a recreational resource by some. Recreational hunting may also contribute to wild animal control. The Act, however, requires the extermination as far as possible of introduced species in national parks. This must remain the primary consideration, not management of introduced species for their recreational values.
Preservation of indigenous biodiversity
The park has a range of vegetation and habitats, and a number of nationally threatened species. National priorities for the preservation of those species do not, in all cases, include specific programmes within the park. The reality is that while there are many ongoing threats to indigenous habitats and species, there are also limited resources. Priority setting is essential.
Areas with particularly significant biodiversity values that are priorities for threatened species programmes include the Dart catchment (especially the main Dart Valley and the Route Burn and Rock Burn Valleys), the Makarora/Young area and the Haast Tokoeka Kiwi Sanctuary7 (see Map 5). However, the whole park contains valuable habitats for a wide range of indigenous species.
This plan contains provisions directly relevant to preserving biodiversity and threatened species work. The introduced plant and animal sections are particularly relevant, as controlling or eradicating introduced species is crucial to the survival of many indigenous species.
Aircraft use and preservation of natural quiet8
Management of aircraft use within and over the park is a key issue. Aircraft can assist public use and enjoyment, and are used for conservation management purposes. However, they can adversely affect other visitors and diminish the values associated with solitude and natural quiet. Aircraft use can also create both a perception of crowding and conflict between user groups.
The aircraft use provisions reflect management intent to preserve, as far as possible, the park’s remote character and natural quiet values, while recognising that controlled use can assist public appreciation of some parts of the park.
Most landings are confined to designated sites in the back country and front country zones and limits are placed on landings at each site. Landing sites in the remote zone are (except for Bevan Col) low use sites located on the western side of the park. They are used primarily by recreational hunters during the roar period but one site (on the Waiatoto River) is a suitable entry point onto the river for kayaking parties. The plan also signals that the department, along with other parties, will consider how to minimise the effects of over-flights on visitors, especially in the Olivine Wilderness Area and the Mount Aspiring climbing region (see sections 10 and 12).
A wide range of recreation and tourism concessions have been granted in the park, many related to guided walking, climbing or fishing and some of which may involve use of aircraft. Concession activity is concentrated in a few areas, such as the Route Burn, West Matukituki and lower Dart Valleys. In much of the park there is limited concessionaire activity at present.
Concessionaire activities can enhance park use and appreciation and may make it accessible to people who may not otherwise use it. They need to be managed to ensure that other visitors’ experiences are not compromised and be consistent with the preservation of the park in its natural state. The activity must also be consistent with the physical and social characteristics of the zone or place in which it occurs.
This plan sets limits on overall concessionaire activity in several high use areas to protect social and environmental values. It also identifies activities considered inappropriate in various parts of the park, for which concessions are unlikely to be granted. Two areas of the park (the Olivine Wilderness Area and the Dart/Rees circuit) will largely be kept concession-free9.
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7 These areas are also referred to as the “biodiversity hotspots” in the park.
8 Defined in Glossary.
9 See sections 9 (Dart /Rees) and 12 (Olivine Wilderness Area).