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Paparoa National Park, Punakaiki (2026)

24/05/2019

The Department of Conservation's new approach to consultation

The Department of Conservation has made an appalling blunder in its management of the Paparoa National Park whereby the Paparoa National Park Management Plan (PNPMP) allows certain illegal activities, notably commercial recreational helicopter landings and sporting events.

This situation has arisen because DOC management has not complied with the requirements of the National Parks Act 1981, which specifies that the 2017 PNPMP must comply with the provisions of the West Coast Conservation Management Strategy (CMS). The latter is a higher order management plan that excludes commercial helicopter landings and sporting events in the park, so as to preserve its natural peace and quiet.

In fact the problem is much more serious than just DOC’s blunder because the failure of the 2017 PNPMP to comply with the CMS means that the plan could not have legally been signed off by the New Zealand Conservation Authority in the first place. Therefore the whole management plan is illegal.

But rather than follow the law, and amend the PNPMP so as to make it compliant with the CMS, or throw it out and reinstate the 1992 plan until a new review is undertaken and properly approved, the Department has chosen to amend the CMS in order to make it comply with the PNPMP, in particular where the latter allows, no surprises here, commercial helicopter landings and sporting events. This is no supposition. DOC’s amendment proposal clearly states that the purpose of the amendments is to bring the CMS in line with the 2017 PNPMP.

So much for the principle of natural justice that requires a decision maker to have no bias. The general public have been invited to make submissions (closed on 20 May 2019) but the evidence is that those who have submitted opposing the amendments will be ignored.

This unbelievable and improper procedural mess originated from the previous government’s offer of a pacifier to the families of the 29 miners killed in the 2010 Pike River coal mine explosion. The explosion would probably not have occurred if government changes in health and safety had not led to a decline in the capacity and effectiveness of coal mining inspectors. Perhaps in recognition of this, though not publicly, the then Environment Minister, Nick Smith, held confidential meetings with representatives of the families of dead miners and proposed the construction of a 45 km Pike 29 Memorial Track that would extend the existing Croesus Track, south of the Paparoa National Park, northwards so as to join the park’s Inland Pack Track via a short alpine traverse and exit at Punakaiki. The track would include two huts and be dual use for walkers and bicycles. Cabinet approved the proposal and $10 million was set aside for its construction. By November 2015 DOC was announcing the coming of the 10th Great Walk, the Pike 29 Memorial Track.

But there was an irksome problem. The operational plan for the park was the 1992 PNPMP, which excluded new tracks and huts and emphasised the importance to the park's peace and quiet. Before construction could get underway the old management plan had to be got rid of and allowance made for the new track. So, in a manner similar to the present procedure for amending the CMS, a review of the 1992 PNPMP was undertaken and the general public invited to make submissions. When the matter of the already approved new track was raised at one of DOC’s public "consultation" meetings at Punakaiki, and which questioned the purpose of the meeting if decisions had already been made approving the track, the facilitator refused to discuss the matter.

Smith knew there would be a lot of support from people who liked to ride their bicycles along mountain tracks. There was also a lot of emotional support for the families of the 29 miners killed, which generated a groundswell of momentum in favour of the track that rolled over any opposition. Even the suggestion of a former mayor of Westport that $10 million would be more appropriately spent on a new hospital wing, was ignored.

But most disconcertingly the manner in which the new track had been approved and advertised before any public consultation had been sought was clear evidence that the review of the PNPMP would favour the new track, regardless of submissions opposing it. The review process was just a formality, and so it turned out.

To make things even murkier, if possible, much of the impetus for the proposed CMS amendments has come from commercial interests who have started planning for a major sporting event on the new Paparoa track that promises to see hordes of bicycles and helicopters careering over the remains of the 29 dead miners resting quietly in the mine passages below. The organisers need concessions to operate, but these cannot be granted until the legality of the provisions of the 2017 PNPMP are sorted out. No doubt they will be making strong submissions on the proposed amendments.

14/02/2019

So much for District Council enforcement of freedom camping rules at the various "Freedom Camping" sites they have created on the West Coast. Here, at McMillan Road/Razorback Beach, just south of Punakaiki, we see examples of just one night's contempt for our environment by these "freedom crappers". A woman cyclist camping on the beach beside the camper parking area, and her early departure before the Council monitor does their not so early inspection. If only she knew that the ground she had camped on had been saturated with urine by people with similar toileting habits as hers. Then there was the camper who legally parked his campervan at the designated parking area, but didn't want to use his onboard toilet, perhaps because it was inconvenient and smelly and his partner was still in bed, so why not add to the aroma outside like numerous others before him (so much for onboard toilets) .... and then there were the two tourists who parked up in their car for the night in front of the sign advising them that to do so was illegal and they were liable to a fine if they did so, but the Council monitor just asked them to move on and don't do it again ... and then there's the outcome of all this obnoxious behaviour - more fresh s**t on the beach.

10/02/2018

Razorback beach, 1 km south of the Punakaiki River. Great spot for Freedom campers to stop the night and p**s and crap all over the place.

01/02/2018

Shades of Cyclone Ita in 2014, the remnants of Cyclone Fehi this afternoon have contributed to high seas at Punakaiki that washed out State Highway 6 just north of the Pancake Rocks. A bit more climate change and soon the village will need a sea wall on top of its sea wall. But hey... don't stop burning those fossil fuels.

04/10/2017

Good riddance possum, rat, stoat, deer... August 1080 poison drop over Paparoa National Park, and more to come.

01/06/2017

One of the most popular tracks in the Park, to the Fox River tourist cave, has been closed since before last summer. A Department of Conservation (DOC) article in the Grey Star titled “Landslip smothers Fox River Cave” suggested that a major life threatening event had occurred, which necessitated several warning signs and two barrier fences to ensure visitors didn’t unwittingly place themselves in harms way. DOC has stated that the site was closed until restoration work could take place.

Nevertheless, occasional adventurous spirits chose to ignore the warnings and warily approached the site, only to discover that the cave had not been smothered at all, but, as revealed in these photos, a square metre patch of rocks had fallen from the cliff above the cave entrance. Such events have been occurring since time immemorial and if tracks are to be closed on such basis then most of the Park would be closed, including the Pancake Rocks.

Sure, a rock on one’s head would not be pleasant, but it’s absurd, and patronising, to manage the untamed wilds as though they are a city street where barriers are placed around maintenance works to prevent small children and cell phone users from walking into holes. Such risk aversion is also dangerous in that it promotes a degree of scepticism that may put Park users in danger when a real threat exists.

And what’s this about restoration work? The rock fall hasn’t created an obstacle to access. Maybe some of the $10,000,000 tagged for the new Pike River Tragedy Track would be better used to remedy the lack of a formed track over a large part of the route to the Fox caves, and thereby reduce the greater risk posed by mud holes and slippery limestone rocks, which have caused many visitors to perform an impromptu cartwheel into the stinging nettle.

08/04/2017

At the recent invite only launch of the new Paparoa National Park “management plan”, Nick Smith, the Environment Minister, and chief promoter of the Pike River Tragedy Track (it’s his baby) revealed that the track was the driving force to develop the new plan! So... all you people who made submissions on the draft plan opposing the Tragedy Track and the lack of a proper management regime, and thought you were being listened to seriously... too bad, you’ve been suckered. The track had been approved by government – and endorsed by the families of the 29 miners killed in the Pike coal mine disaster - long before Joe public was asked to comment on it. As if nature was intent on making comment on the fiasco of such a rigged consultation process, as Smith was enthusiastically espousing the virtues of the “plan”, such as the economic benefits its would accrue, a large poster behind him depicting people enjoying lush nature slowly curled off the panel where it was held up by masking tape. Well done Forest & Bird for refusing to be part of such a charade.

Everyone who loves our national parks for their intrinsic natural values will be very concerned to discover that this new look Paparoa “plan” is at the vanguard of a dumbing down of the effectiveness of such plans. Look out Westland, Aoraki, Aspiring, Fiordland... your turn is coming. And the winners will be those who wish to exploit our parks for commercial purposes at the expense of the very natural values they were created for. The lack of a firm protection regime for Paparoa is alarming. Besides favouring the tourism industry, the “plan” opens the door for Ngai Tahu/Ngati Waewae to exploit the Park’s once fully protected plants and wildlife, such as the rare Westland Petrel.

This “plan” is even more tragic given that when the Paparoa National Park was created – after some ten years of vigorous campaigning – it was held up as an example of our maturing consciousness towards our environment, the first national park created in New Zealand primarily to protect in perpetuity its rich ecological features.

Now we have a “plan” that patronisingly applies management regimes that have no logical connection with the major natural features of the park, least of all when it comes to protecting them.

The first casualties of this “plan” are already evident, the forests, and their inhabitants, along the route of the proposed new Tragedy Track, which the powers that be have decided to call the “Paparoa Track”, but it will still be an environmental tragedy nonetheless. Actually, to call it a “track” is misleading because it will be a narrow road, designed to cater for people who aren’t really interested in savouring our wild natural landscapes, but who like to ride their bicycles through them nevertheless. So, while the Inland Pack Track suffers from years of neglect work has started on clearing the route of the new track through forest smashed by Cyclone Ita, for about a kilometre east of the Inland Pack Track/Pororari River junction. It’s not so picturesque now, but not to worry, cyclist zooming through won’t even notice.

Too much to say. More to come.

The photos show both the route through the cyclone damaged forest and that about to be trashed by chainsaws.

13/02/2017

Management of the Paparoa National Park tracks has now hit an all time low. Whilst the park’s recently approved management plan provides for a controversial new $10 million track, the Pike River tragedy track, to be constructed to connect the park with the Croesus Track to the south of the park, large sections of the Pack Track remain in an appalling state, as revealed by these photos ... there's actually a track there somewhere. But hey ... no surprise, this is just the sort of mismanagement to be expected when politicians, like Environment Minister Nick Smith, meddle in park management.

05/02/2017

Good grief! The only road access into the park has been closed all summer because of the odd minor washout problem and no sign that it will reopen soon. Maintenance of the road has been a running sore since the park was opened in 1987. The Buller District Council, which strenuously opposed the creation of the park, is technically responsible for the road's upkeep, but can't see past the cost of doing so, despite the park and pancake rocks being the largest tourism attraction in the district.

And what short memories some people in the Council have. Have they forgotten the Cave Creek tragedy in 1995 when a Department of Conservation viewing platform fell into the Cave Creek gorge and killed 14 people? Perhaps they’ve also forgotten the ambulance that got stuck in one of the mud holes in the Bullock Creek road on it's way to attend to the scene. There was some effort to keep the road maintained after that ... for a while, but now were back to square one.

Aside from the road's obvious value in the event of such emergencies, it's also important for visitor access and maintenance of tracks in the area, such as the Inland Pack Track, which is in an appalling condition.

It's just not good enough to put up a few warning signs and a bit of plastic fence absolving the Council of responsibility if someone comes to grief on the road. While the Buller Mayor, Garry Howard, got stuck in recently to help with the sea wall in front of the Punakaiki Motor Camp, which the Council generates a direct income from, the Bullock Creek road, which generates no direct income, is left to deteriorate.

17/08/2016

More than two years after the event, work has been done to clear Cyclone Ita windfall from that part of the Inland Pack Track north of Bullock Creek Farm. I hope that this is not the finished product.

14/08/2016

The lack of funding for maintenance in the Park almost claimed a victim just recently when a tourist got lost on Mt Bovis for two bitterly cold nights after he lost the marked route and became disoriented. There is not even a shadow of a track along the route, so surely if DOC is going to advertise and place signage for such routes it must accept responsibility for at least checking from time to time to make sure all the markers can be seen. As it is this particular route hasn't had any attention for years, even prior to 2014 when Cyclone Ita damage obscured even well formed tracks due to windfall.

06/07/2016

This Greymouth Evening Star article (5 July 2016) highlights the Department of Conservation's trend of supporting commercial ventures at the expense of environmental values.

The manner in which the general public are excluded from the decision making process, or ignored, is also evident with the Paparoa National Park management plan consultation process, notably with regard to the proposed Pike 29 memorial track. Despite the appearance of a public consultation process there is ample documentation that clearly reveals that a decision has been made behind closed doors and the track is a fait accompli. See it for yourself at http://www.doc.govt.nz/news/issues/pike29-memorial-track/

Paparoa National Park