"I feel as if I've got my country back"

The Boards firstly acknowledged the financial hardship and social impacts on many towns, businesses and families in the southern region that have significant tourism economies from the closing of the borders for over the past year.

“I feel as if I’ve got my country back” – Peter McDonald, Board Member of the Southland Conservation Board

This was the comment that has stuck in my mind and one that many kiwis can identify with regarding post-covid tourism in New Zealand.

Many New Zealanders have taken the opportunity over the last year to enjoy the many previous high- volume tourist spots, re-connecting and finding a new appreciation for the conservation estate.

The Southland Conservation Board and Otago Conservation Board, who together provide oversight advice to the Department of Conservation (DOC) over a significant part of New Zealand’s conservation estate, met recently in Invercargill where visitor strategy was a key topic that was discussed.

We believe the impacts on the conservation estate are directly related to the pressures related to visitor numbers the Boards said.

While many in tourism may wish with the opening of the borders to return back to pre-covid tourism behaviours, a growing number of kiwis and tour operators are clear that we do not want this.

Over-tourism was eroding the sectors “social license” with many kiwis.

We find ourselves in a “slack tide” moment where we now have the opportunity to design a better way forward for tourism, one which is more in line with the values of New Zealanders.

Treating our guests with greater respect so their experiences are of high quality will ensure they will in turn treat our conservation estate with respect.

Both Boards discussed tools for better managing tourist numbers, while reluctant to advise “visitor limits”, they believed limits would be “on the table” if the sector returned to its pre-covid days of
“tourism by numbers”.

The Boards welcomed the recent tightening of restrictions on freedom camping but acknowledged we still need a diversity of travellers to provide future security to the sector as a whole.

The Boards would like to advocate for more strategic policy oversight to have a more cohesive sector, one which works for the good of the conservation estate and therefore the good of all kiwis.

Specifically, on Climate Change both Boards suggested how important it was that DOC should start early discussions with its many concessioners on developing plans around firstly knowing their emission profile, and then developing an emission reduction plan.

"Nature is the “backbone” of our country. Both Boards believe our conservation estate must be treated as a national treasure which demands regular, care and ongoing investment."