Recreation Aotearoa has made written submission to the formal consultations on Draft Management plans for Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (link) and Westland Tai Pouitini National Park (link). The major thrust of our submission and others in the recreation sector, has been to push back against what is perceived as over-catering to the tourism industry at the expense of the NZ recreation community. An excellent Radio NZ National interview with NZAC President John Palmer, traverses this issue in depth.

DOC has suspended further development on the plans after consultation with Ngai Tahu over the effect of a recent Supreme Court decision (the Ngai Tai case) which may require DOC to give preference to Iwi interests when allocating commercial opportunities.