More nature, less buildings for Tongariro National Park

Thursday, 6 September 2018

World famous in New Zealand - the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

The number of buildings in the Tongariro National Park is being reduced.

Local iwi and the Department of Conservation want to see fewer buildings in the park out of respect for its cultural values.

Whakapapa and Tūroa Skifield operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts [RAL] is also reducing the number of structures it has on Mt Ruapehu. It will be removing a large structure on the upper mountain and a further six old buildings at Whakapapa, replacing them with a single, fit-for-purpose structure at the top of Bruce Road.

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The landscape at the Tongariro Alpine Crossing varies immensely with lakes, a red crater and a green forest each offering a unique view.

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Tongariro National Park has rare, dual heritage site status for both its Māori, cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features.

Department of Conservation (DOC) Director Operations, Central North Island Allan Munn said, over time, DOC would like to see fewer buildings in the park.

Speaking at the 4th Sustainable Summits Conference in France recently, Munn said the world was a different place now, compared to the 18th and 19th centuries.

'Most peaks were unclimbed and indeed unnamed. Now we're facing more people, more pressure as we concern ourselves with the management of parks and mountains.

'How many is too many? DOC is charged with looking after National Parks, park value is number one.' Munn said.

About 128,000 people walked the Tongariro Crossing in the 2017/18 season. At times there were 1500 people on the track in a single day. It is the most popular one-day walk in New Zealand.

People flock there form all over the world to experience the unique culture and terrain, including the three active volcanoes; Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.

Domestic and international visitor numbers continue to increase every year. Over the two week school holidays in July, more than 100,000 visited Mount Ruapheu to ski or play in the snow.

'There is no doubt that Whakapapa in particular 'feels' busier due to [the] increasing number of non-skiing visitors,' RAL CEO Ross Copland said.

Tuwharetoa Negotiator, Te Ngahe Wanikau also attended the conference in France.

He considers all visitors to be guests and Tangata Whenua [people of the land].

'When we speak of numbers it should never be driven by a numeric figure.

'Again it is a simple formula, respect to the rights and well-being of the maunga [mountain] and its environs, will invariably - aside from the very rare exception - be reciprocated with respect to the rights and well-being of the visitor,' he said.

Wanikau said the park was very significant on an international level, but to 'add to the existing structures in any manner that did not reflect the spiritual values of the mountain would cause 'great anguish' to Ngati Tuwharetoa and 'greatly diminish' the value of any activity operating within the park and its environs.'

Munn said New Zealand had been poor, in the past, in setting limits on the number of visitors to some sites.

'New Zealanders have an interest in seeing values protected where possible or enhanced,' Munn said.