WHAT IS NATURE TOURISM IN NEW ZEALAND?
As in other countries, nature tourism means various things
to assorted entrepreneurs and individual travelers.
To some tour operators, scenic helicopter flights, or jet boat
races over rocky streams, qualify as nature experiences. Other
people who operate nature tours believe that wind-propelled
(sailing) and self-propelled methods of exploring -- hiking,
climbing, caving, rapelling (called abseiling in New Zealand),
paddling and so forth are the most satisfying means of exploring
a natural setting. Still others believe that wilderness experiences
-- working on possum control, for example -- that enhance the
environment are the best nature experiences of all.
"Adventures in Nature: New Zealand" describes 71 different
nature adventures that can be done independently, with the help
of outfitters, or on guided tours. Each adventure takes place
in some distinctive, usually very lovely, area in this island
country. In selecting adventures for the book, I looked at low-impact
eco-friendly travel options for travel and touring, as well
as dining and lodging. Woven into the fabric of each adventure
are details about the geology, plants, and animals to be found
in each area.
Here are questions an eco-sensitive traveler needs to ask:
Does a cafe manager or tour operator hire local people, treat
them with respect, and pay them a living wage? Does the business
generate unnecessary trash? Does lodging business use a heritage
building, or build with renewable, local materials? Inquire
about the energy sources. Some of the Maori hangi feasts are
cooked in the traditional manner, and take place in carved meeting
houses. Does the cafe serve regional foods, and especially,
vegetarian or vegan food? How -- and where -- is waste disposed
of during a lovely Hauraki Gulf sailing cruise? Also ask, does
the tour operator live in -- and contribute to -- the local
community? And does the owner/operator want to share his/her
enthusiasm about nature, or seem more focused on increasing
personal wealth at your expense.
New Zealand Nature Safaris (NZNS) has been getting high marks
for their eco-sensitive travel. Their Kiwi guides have grown
up exploring the country's craggy coastlines, rushing rivers,
lush rain forests, glaciers, caves, and fiords. The emphasis
is on hiking, but they include other experiences, like bathing
in secluded thermal pools. NZNS guides will keep you away from
crowds while letting you enjoy special, hidden places with no
other campers in sight. Tours involve small groups only; trips
depart each week in season and visit different parts of the
country. Check out web site http://www.hikingnewzealand.com.
WHAT ARE THE BIOREGIONS?
For a country about the size of Colorado, New Zealand has
surprisingly varied life zones. They range from subtropic in
the north, to subantarctic in the south. Off North Island's
Pacific coast, warmed by the Auckland current, divers move amid
colorful maomao and black angelfish at Poor Knights, one of
Jacques Costeau's favorite dive sites. Yet along South Island's
sea coast, little yellow-eyed penguins feed in coastal waters
by day, then waddle across the beach at dusk to reach their
burrows.
The country's irregular coastline is 15,811 kilometers long
and no place is farther than 70 miles from the sea. Yet, that
doesn't mean you can move swiftly from mountain tops to ocean
beaches -- for in the rugged back country, there may be no roads!
Geological activity has moved, twisted, tortured and scattered
the land masses, so the entire archipelago -- comprised of about
700 islands -- includes many areas of sculptured and beautiful
terrain.
Just as the life zones are spread across the latitudes, New
Zealand's life forms vary from the depths of the sea to the
mountain heights. Dolphins, orcas, whales and other marine life
feed in a 1,000-meter trench off the Kaikoura coast, while rare
alpine flowers grow on the slopes of 3,764 meter Mount Cook.
So, in New Zealand, you'll find unusual species that developed
in isolation over time and thrive at particular latitudes and
altitudes.
WHO ARE THE CONSERVATIONISTS?
About 30% of New Zealand is publicly owned land, including
national parks, forest parks, scenic and scientific reserves;
the Department of Conservation (DOC) administers this land.
The DOC also manages protected native species wherever they
are, provides huts for hikers on long, challenging trails and
develops a limited amount of tourist infrastructure. Maori-owned
lands include nature reserves and sacred sites like Ketatahi
Springs, along the route known as Tongariro Crossing, but off-limits
to curious hikers.
In 1993, New Zealand signed the Convention of Biological Diversity,
agreeing to conserve the country's existing biological diversity;
to assure the use of species, genetic material, and living systems
can be sustained long-term; and to share the benefits from genetic
resources fairly and equitably. Thus, you'll find the DOC involved
in various programs for protecting birds, plants, freshwater
fish, and invertebrates. The DOC also supervises possum control
programs and supervises recreational hunting, used to keep populations
of imported deer in check. Occasionally, the DOC gives film
companies permission to use certain sites for locations -- not
everyone agrees with this use of public lands. For more information
about the powerful DOC, visit their web site at http://www.doc.govt.nz/index.htm
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Since humans arrived, changes in the beautiful New Zealand
landscape have resulted in the extinction of more than 50 species.
Several hundred of the remaining species are threatened with
extinction in the next 50 years, claims the DOC. Because native
species evolved in the absence of predators, some species developed
characteristics like flightlessness (the takahe bird) or giantism
(an insect called the giant weta) and others became long-lived
and slow breeding (a reptile called the tuatara). These characteristics
leave them less able to defend themselves against introduced
predators (like rats, possums, and stoats), while human settlement
continues to encroach on their habitats.
Fortunately, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society,
World Wild Fund for Nature, Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, New Zealand
Native Forests Restoration Trust, Native Forest Action and other
groups receive support from various benefactors and volunteers.
Claims Shaun Barnett in New Zealand Wilderness Magazine "We're
certainly blessed in this country ... but visitors to the backcountry
see everything as beautiful, pristine ... the untouched image
is entirely false." Read more about this at http://www.surfingnz.com/augustissue/augeditorial.html
WHICH NEW ZEALANDERS MAKE NATURE TOURISM A PRIORITY?
New Zealand's democratic government makes nature tourism a
priority through the Department of Conservation (DOC). Visit
their web site at http://www.doc.govt.nz/index.htm
The DOC has a head office, regional and conservancy offices,
and a network of field centers around the country.
These field centers are great resources; you can study giant
topo maps on the walls, and get free information and advice,
as well as buy good books and maps. The DOC also maintains a
network of 960 backcountry huts and can also answer questions
about outfitters, or about shuttle services or small boats used
as transports to trailheads.
DOC policies now limit the number of hikers each day to 40
people on the Milford Track and other Great Walks. This limit
on carrying capacity, designed to protect the lush environment
of the most popular tracks from an array of overseas visitors,
doesn't entirely suit outdoor-loving Kiwis. New Zealander residents
believe they should have access to their own public lands. Some
New Zealanders believe -- along with naturalist John Muir --
that people need to encounter wilderness in all its wonder so
they can appreciate it. Others work hard to protect and enhance
New Zealand's lovely environment and would prefer that international
visitors stay home.
FOCUS ON NEW ZEALAND ECOTOURISM INDEX
New Zealand Natural History
- The Focus Has Always Been Natural History
New
Zealand Tourism Q&A
- What is nature tourism in New Zealand? What are the bioregions?
Who are the conservationists? What's at stake? Which New Zealanders
make nature tourism a priority?
Places
- New Zealand's North Island: The Tree House
- South Island: Awaroa Lodge and Cafe
- South Island: Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge
Helpful
New Zealand Books and Web Sites
Recommended reading |
