Business stressed with uncertainty at park closure
Businesses are crying out for clarity over the looming closure of the Waita¯ kere Ranges Regional Park.
The council’s move to close it by May 1 to protect against the spread of kauri dieback disease was unexpected.
An association of 113 tourism and hospitality providers in the area said the lack of a rough timeframe on when tracks might open again was making it impossible to plan for the future.
‘‘People are anxious. It’s their livelihoods, it’s their ability to put food on the tables,’’ Waita¯kere Experience Networking Group chairwoman Pip Mandis said. ‘‘I don’t think anybody has any idea of how stressful this period is.’’
The councillors’ vote on February 20 to close the ranges came ‘‘completely out of the blue’’, she said – particularly as Mayor Phil Goff had said in December: ‘‘There is no way that we can simply close the park and ensure that nobody goes into it.’’
Mandis said her business Awesome Walks depended on people being able to tramp in the park.
She pulled out of a tourist trade fair in London this month, as she didn’t know if she had a product to sell. ‘‘There isn’t an insurance policy that would cover against something like this,’’ she said.
‘‘What will be opened? When will [tracks] start being opened? How long is the whole park closed for? Because to make informed decisions about the ability of a business to get through this, those questions are pivotal.’’
Auckland Council regional parks manager Rachel Kelleher said it had been in touch with organisations who had contracts to use the park about the vote to close it and what would happen next.
‘‘As we said in our email to concessionaires at the end of last week, right now, we don’t have answers to every question, however we will be progressing this
‘‘There isn't an insurance policy that would cover against something like this’’
Pip Mandis
swiftly. We appreciate how important this is and people’s patience while we work through it,’’ she said.
‘‘We will be in further contact soon to set up opportunities for operators to provide us with feedback on the impact that this closure might have.’’
The council was working with local iwi Te Kawerau a¯ Maki on what concessions could be given to operators, Kelleher said.
It also planned to talk with businesses adjacent to the park.