An unambiguous mandate for Conservation

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 318, 19 December 1989, Page 4 (Supplement)

An unambiguous mandate for Conservation

The Department of Conservation is the controlling influence in New Zealand's wild and out-of-the-wav places.

It is an investor in wildlife and habitat and wildlife protection, in

land management and rehabilitation, in pest control, in recreation

and in the promotion of the country's natural areas for their intrinsic worth as well as for the opportunities they provide for physical and spiritual well-being. The department, born of a desire of tens of thousands of New Zealanders for an agency with an unambiguous mandate to protect and promote the country's natural areas and heritage, was forged from a range of old government departments with mixed mandates and messages. Today, the department's distinctive logo is associated with national parks, forest and maritime parks, reserves and sanctuaries, wilderness and ecological areas, archaeological sites and historical places - all parts of the crown estate that are protected for their natural, scientific, historic, cultural and recreational values.

The department is also responsible for wildlife, margins of lakes, rivers and the seashore, intertidal areas, the seabed to the 12-mile limit of New Zealand's territorial waters and offshore and sub-antarctic islands. The department's investment of expertise stretches over 34 per cent of the country's land area - land which the department manages on behalf of the public of future generations. Part of the process in achieving protection for some of the finest natural environment in the world involves coaxing people from the towns and cities to the wild places. It is important that people experience first-hand the wonders of these places if they are to add their names to the list of conservation advocates. The department plays a key role in bringing the outdoor experience

to the public. Its presence in parks and protected areas is the beginning. Offices and visitor centres run by the department are an excellent source of useful and educational publications, maps, advice and weather bulletins. Tourists and travellers are encouraged to visit the department's offices around the country before heading for the outdoors. Armed with the information they need for their trips, visitors to parks and protected areas are often reliant on the department for access to them. A great deal of money and work has gone into providing tracks, roads and bridges to help people reach their destination in the wilds. The department also provides facilities for visitors to natural areas - hundreds of huts, campsites, picnic areas and information boards. The department is anxious to work with outdoor groups in promoting a new minimum impact code that will help in safeguarding natural areas, part of this will involve spreading the message that rubbish should be

carried out of the mountains and the coastline kept clean. The department, in promoting appropriate recreational opportunities, is happy to consult with user groups. It is happy to talk about such issues as mountain bike policy. Central to the department's mission is the care of areas people wish to use for recreation. It is vital that all interested groups agree on mechanisms to safeguard and protect those ureas. Sometimes this means constraints are necessary, but there should be no doubts

about the department's comrpitment to facilitating the experiences which make new adventurers advocates of our wild places. The department will encourage the use of New Zealand's natural and historic resources for recreation and tourism providing this use is consistent with good conservation practice. The department sees its role as that of trustee for this heritage so that future generations can, in their turn, identify with the distinctive character of New Zealand.