Trampers v skiers in parking stoush
A row has broken out over preferential parking spots for skiers on Mt Ruapehu, with a skifield operator accused of ‘‘privatising’’ Tongariro National Park.
In recent years, winter visitors to the Whakapapa and Tu¯ roa ski fields have endured traffic congestion and long queues after a fresh dump of snow.
But a new system to offer guaranteed parking for ‘‘platinum’’ season pass holders and life members has infuriated the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand (FMC), advocates for outdoor enthusiasts.
The organisation believes the deal, advertised by skifield operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), is at odds with legislation which governs the national parks and disadvantages other mountain users, like trampers.
RAL has a concession to operate in the park, granted by the Department of Conservation.
FMC president Jan Finlayson said: ‘‘Mt Ruapehu is in Tongariro National Park. It is public land and the National Parks Act . . . is strongly public-spirited.
‘‘Concessions are allowed but commercial, tourist activity has to come second to conservation and recreation.
‘‘The mountain is a drawcard for recreationists: ski-touring, mountaineering and tramping. Congestion has expanded transport need.’’
She said RAL advertised the sale of early bird passes, which included preferential parking, last spring. ‘‘Prior to the sales going online, FMC objected saying the sale went beyond what was allowed by the legislation. It was an effective privatisation of a public good, and it would run roughshod over the public spirit of the legislation.’’
All three groups held talks, and Finlayson said RAL agreed to withdraw the privilege, but has since backtracked. ‘‘That brings us to where we are now. It is akin to a private business restricting access to Muriwai Beach or Hagley Park. Asking people to enormously hasn’t kept and public up with the book parking and use shuttles are solutions that treat everyone equally. The company’s selling space in the national park, for its own private profit. That’s the nub of it.’’
DOC’s Tongariro operations manager Connie Norgate said she was comfortable with RAL’s system and said the department took into consideration the policies and objectives of the National Parks Act and the Tongariro National Park Plan when making a decision about managing congestion on the mountain in winter months.
‘‘The Department of Conservation gave approval for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd to continue to implement bookable parking for 2021 as a way to manage visitor numbers and impacts at peak times,’’ she said in a written statement.
Norgate said the arrangement was ‘‘an extension’’ of bookable car parking trialled in 2020. ‘‘We are comfortable with the consultation RAL has undertaken with park partners/ stakeholders to ensure appropriate parking allocation and access arrangements have been made. We see this system as a way to mitigate congestion which has been a consistent issue for us on the mountain at peak times.’’
RAL’s concession limits visitor numbers to the ski field to a maximum 5500 people per day.
‘‘We acknowledge the demand for car parks on peak weekends means it is not always possible for all user groups to obtain a car park, regardless of the approach taken,’’ Norgate said. ‘‘We also acknowledge RAL needs to run a viable business.’’
A spokesman for RAL referred Stuff to DOC’s statement. He added: ‘‘We have started updating our website with information on how parking will work this year and will be doing some further ‘how to’ updates towards the end of May in plenty of time before winter.’’
The $999 ‘‘platinum’’ season pass deal is now sold out.
In 2018, Stuff reported on an ongoing battle between corporate and public interests on the mountain. RAL faced criticism when it started charging for snow play, $2 for a cup of hot water and $10.50 for a punnet of chips.
‘‘It is akin to a private business restricting access to Muriwai Beach or Hagley Park.’’ Jan Finlayson FMC president