Whakapapa ski lodges may pay more to DoC
Private mountain hut users at Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu may soon face a hike in fees thanks to a plan by the Conservation Department to charge new market-set resource rentals for private club huts within the Tongariro-Taupo Conservancy. Opponents say the new increases would raise nightly accommodation charges up to 30 percent, equivalent to $4-$5 a bunk. However, DoC has esti-
mated the proposed increase would be $l-$2. The Ruapehu Mountain Clubs Association said the new levy was excessive and has gone to arbitration. Some 56 huts containing 1 600 beds are on the mountain. The huts are owned by various mountain clubs, but are on DoC-administered national park land. Until now, no rental for the land has been charged although the private club hut owners have paid a $42 per year bunk charge for
rubbish collection and other services. DoC has proposed introducing rentals ranging from $50-$ 1 50 a bunk — equivalent to $15Q0-$5000 for a normal 30 bunk hut. Counter To counter the rise the $42 service charge would be cut to $32. DoC Tongariro-Taupo conservancy senior conservation officer Mike Ambrose said the increases were necessary because the National Parks Act now re-
quires DoC to charge market rentals for non-public use of its land. Around $150,000 would
be generated at Whakapapa, which would fund DoC programmes. Discounts would be given to clubs using huts
for education and instruction courses and the levies would be phased in over three years.
Federated Mountain Club president Hugh Barr described the increases as "market nonsense".
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Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 593, 4 July 1995, Page 3 (Supplement)
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262Whakapapa ski lodges may pay more to DoC Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 593, 4 July 1995, Page 3 (Supplement)
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