Tag Archives: government policies

Suggestion of Charging Overseas Visitors for National Parks

Posted on 11 February, 2012 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

The Otago Daily Times has recently been pushing a story (parroted in the NZ Herald) about a suggestion of charging tourists for entry to National Parks in New Zealand. A further ODT story from the same day (last Thursday) briefly … Continue reading →

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A Crossing to Remember: A Tararua Southern Crossing in 1920

Posted on 20 January, 2012 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

Several days ago, I noted that it’s almost 100 years since the Southern Crossing Track was completed, which is pretty cool. This, however, was only the beginning of a significant tourism venture for both the Otaki and Wairarapa regions. At … Continue reading →

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Commercial Consents and Pest Control (watch that space)

Posted on 8 November, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

Maybe this is old news, but I was interested to discover tonight, through a press release of a speech last night, that the Parliamentary Commissioner of the Environment (PCE) is beginning an investigation into commercial use of conservation land. The … Continue reading →

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DoC announces its camping restrictions

Posted on 16 September, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

As was noted in this thread in the NZ Tramper forums (thanks madpom), the Department of Conservation has published its list of places where it prohibits “Freedom Camping”. Note that this list only relates to DoC land, and doesn’t include … Continue reading →

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That Freedom Camping Thing (Part 2)

Posted on 28 June, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

Following my post a few weeks ago regarding the Freedom Camping Bill (yuck! I hate that name!), I’ve finally gotten around to authoring my submission. Submissions are due on June 29th so if you have anything to say, you’ll need … Continue reading →

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That Freedom Camping Thing

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

“Freedom Camping” is a term that’s been around for about as long as New Zealand’s been a popular international backpacking tourist destination. Along with its sibling term “Freedom Tramping”, the two typically refer to camping or tramping without the structure … Continue reading →

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How the Cave Creek Accident shaped DoC

Posted on 26 April, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you might have noticed me comment occasionally about ways in which the NZ Department of Conservation’s safety policies influence an experience in the back-country. I refer to things such as asset numbers … Continue reading →

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A little about fundamental legal access to conservation land

Posted on 10 April, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

I have to mention just how glad I am that New Zealand parks aren’t subject to the same kind of bureaucratic mess that seems to have been occurring with National Parks throughout the USA over the past few days. In … Continue reading →

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FMC Bulletins now available online

Posted on 17 March, 2011 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

Something I meant to write about a few months back (but became distracted) is the recent achievement of Federated Mountain Clubs in managing to get all of its FMC bulletins online, and available for download, all the way back to … Continue reading →

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Terminal faces

Posted on 3 December, 2010 by Mike McGavinPrint This Post Print This Post

Radio New Zealand has the most detailed online report I can find about the coroner’s recommendations that follow the January 2009 accident where two Australian tourists died under the collapsing terminal face of Fox Glacier. The Coroner has recommended “restricted … Continue reading →

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