Tongariro Management Plan months away

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 250, 12 July 1988, Page 5

Tongariro Management Plan months away

Tongariro National Park's new management plan is still s o m e months away from being implemented because it is "waiting its turn" among other clerical work. The document is now awaiting "tidying up" work at the regional office in Hamilton. From there it will go to Wellington, to the National Parks a n d Reserves Authority and the Minister of Conservation Mrs Helen Clark, for final approval. District Conservator Paul Green said it would probably be three to four months before the plan is finally adopted. The management plan, in five parts, covers Tongariro National Park, Whakapapa ski-

field, Turoa skifield, Tukino skifield and Whakapapa Village. Once approved, it will have statutory powers, and will have effect for a maximum of 10 years. It will still be possible to review some policies as "one-offs" and the whole plan may be reviewed before the 10-year life of the new plan is completely finished. It takes two years to review such a plan by the time two rounds of public submissions have been heard. The management plan, and its review process, are a statutory requirement of the 1980 National Parks Act. At present the Tongariro/Taupo National Parks and Reserves

Board has fmished its role of establishing policy. Among changes in the park will be the desig-

nation of the summit plateau area of Mt Ruapehu as a "pristine area". The proposed desig-

nation reflects the enormous value of this area in its undeveloped state for wildernesstype experiences.

Another interesting proposal contained within the designation of Whakapapa Village and skifield as amenities areas within the national park. This designation will acknowledge the pres-

ence of facilities which increase the recreational experience of visitors to the park. Parts of this article are taken from 'Tongariro' the journal of Tongariro National Park.