Tourism cap calls growing
New Zealand Fish and Game has joined the call for authorities to curb the tourism increase in the South Island high country.
NZFG chief executive Martin Taylor’s call comes in the wake of a submission he made on a major report on High Country access by the Government-backed Walking Access Commission.
In his submission, Taylor said something needed to be done to reduce visitor numbers until the required infrastructure to cope with them is in place.
‘‘It is not appropriate to let the current demand stay the same or grow before measures are in place that address the negative environmental impacts, or address the negative impacts on New Zealanders’ experiences of this unique area.’’
In an interview with Stuff, Taylor said the organisation had noticed a major spike in tourism in popular fishing and hiking spots.
‘‘We’re playing catch-up. Like many things in New Zealand, we know something’s happening and then we just watch it take over and then wait a decade to do something. Sadly, this is happening in tourism.’’
Taylor said there had been a dramatic increase in fishing tourism. There were about 770 nonresident fishing licences (NRL) issued to the Central South Island catchment in the past year.
The NRL costs $165 and is a Whole Season Licence. This figure includes a $38 levy used to improve back country fisheries.
‘‘These fisheries are often very sensitive areas. We have to manage the resource. There has been economic benefit, but the pressures on the climate and New Zealanders’ own enjoyment of the resource can’t be ignored,’’ Taylor said.
Taylor said the increase in recreational tourism, along with the increase of private land owners locking the gate, has led to New Zealanders experiencing a decrease in public access in the South Island High Country.
Federated Mountain Clubs vicepresident Jan Finlayson agreed congestion, environmental harm, and general experiential degradation in the High Country were growing and would continue to grow unless what is meant by ‘‘access’’ undergoes principled and practical refinement.
‘‘New Zealanders need to be prioritised in the back country,’’ Finlayson said.
‘‘We want New Zealanders to feel that sense of sovereignty. We can afford to be quite choosy about who comes here.’’
Simon Williamson, who farms 3700 hectares of Glenbrook Station near Twizel, said not a lot of thought had gone into planning and preparing for the influx of numbers of tourists using the High Country.
‘‘Everyone needs to sit down at the table and discuss what can be done to improve the situation. We can’t just keep pouring people onto private land. The numbers are growing all the time,’’ Williamson said.
He said high country farmers often had to pick up the tab or clean up after tourists who did not respect the environment.
‘‘There are so many issues at play, from health and safety to trespassing onto private property,’’ Williamson said.
Mackenzie District Mayor Graham Smith said the last two Governments had a ‘‘throw the door open’’ strategy for tourism, especially in the high country.
‘‘I don’t think it can carry on like this,’’ he said.
‘‘There is talk about the need for farmers to clean up their act. I think tourism could become worse if the issue isn’t addressed.’’
The report received 274 submissions, one of which was 10,000 words long.