Recognising the importance of this issue, TIA called together interested organisations in December 2007 and established the New Zealand Freedom Camping Forum. 

The Forum’s goal is to consider freedom camping issues from a national perspective. The forum includes representatives from rental van companies, councils, Transit New Zealand, the Department of Conservation (DOC), Police, Tourism New Zealand, Ministry of Tourism, Holiday Accommodation Parks Association of New Zealand (HAPNZ), New Zealand Motor Caravan Association Inc. (NZMCA), Regional Tourism Organisations New Zealand (RTONZ), TIA and other interested organisations.

TIA Sector Manager Geoff Ensor says that formation of a national forum to address freedom camping is clear recognition that no single organisation owns this issue – it is a case of working together for maximum effect.

“The forum is focusing on what can be done collectively and individually to keep freedom camping ‘in check’ and minimise the negative impacts for local communities and New Zealand,” Mr Ensor says.

“This important issue is affecting communities across the country and has been identified as a priority in the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015,” he says.

“New Zealand is promoted as a great place to come if you’re interested in the outdoors and independent travel. While we want both domestic and international visitors to enjoy the experiences different regions have to offer, we also want them to respect the environment and the communities they’re visiting.”

Freedom camping issues

Freedom camping can raise a number of issues for visitor destinations, especially in the busy summer season. These include environmental damage due to sewage discharges and rubbish disposal, potential safety problems for campers, and potential crowding out of other users of parks and reserves.

Some local communities have also raised concerns about vehicles being parked up overnight in urban and residential areas.

“As an industry, we need to ensure that freedom campers, whether they’re using a vehicle or a tent, have the information they need to camp responsibly and comply with national and local regulations, and health and safety guidelines,” Mr Ensor says.

“The NZMCA, KEA Campers, United Campervans and a number of other operators already publish advice on responsible freedom camping on their websites. They are now working with us to do a stock-take of visitor information to see if and how any improvements can be made.”

The Freedom Camping Forum is now focused on five key areas of work:

• Developing a National Freedom Camping Code
• Assisting local government policy development
• Lobbying for funding for visitor information materials as part of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 implementation
• Undertaking a stock-take of currently available freedom camping information
• Exploring visitor education initiatives.

For more information on any of the issues below, please contact TIA, email info@tianz.org.nz or ph. 04 499 0104, or visit http://www.tianz.org.nz/

Putting the Strategy into practice

Work has continued on the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 (NZTS 2015) since its launch in November 2007.  A plan to implement the Strategy’s recommendations is being developed and will set out the roles of public and private sector groups.

TIA will be leading actions in the areas of the environment, workforce and immigration, and local government.  We are defining the work programme, identifying operators to be involved and determining budget requirements for these initiatives.

The implementation plan is due to be formally released shortly and will be made available on the NZTS 2015 website www.nztourismstrategy.com/

As part of TIA’s focus on environmental sustainability, we are also working with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) on a proposal to help improve the energy efficiency of tourism businesses.  Details are due to be announced shortly.

TIA is continuing work with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to reach an agreement on how best to allocate concessions to operate on public conservation lands.  DOC limits the number of concessions it grants in some areas for social or environmental reasons, making the issue of how to allocate those concessions a particularly sensitive and critical one, especially for existing operators. 

TIA has been working on the issue for more than 18 months in order to achieve fair and reasonable treatment for its many Members who take visitors into national parks and reserves.  It has also been a top priority because New Zealand’s outdoor environment is the reason the majority of visitors travel here.

“It’s been a long protracted issue but we finally have an agreement in principle with DOC.  We are now working through the details of concession terms, fee structures and allocation,” Sector Manager Geoff Ensor says.

 “DOC is a key participant in the tourism industry.  While TIA and DOC will be working closely for the next 10-15 years to put the new regime in place, the allocation issue also signals the ability and willingness of TIA and DOC to work collaboratively and effectively on any future issues of mutual interest.”

Read TIA’s submission to DOC on the issue.

TIA and the Department of Labour (DOL) have agreed to work more closely to ease labour shortages in Queenstown.

The two organisations recently convened a meeting in Queenstown, where representatives from a range of Queenstown tourism businesses discussed ways of make the immigration service more helpful for employers, while managing the immigration risks.  Feedback was sought on issues including the application process, health, safety and settlement outcomes, and resourcing of the Queenstown immigration office.

DOL advised that resources in its Queenstown office would be increased and accommodation sought as it seeks to turn around 90% of work permit applications in five working days.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is reviewing the management plans for several national parks and conservancy areas.  These plans guide DOC’s management of the areas for the next 10 years.

New Zealand’s natural areas are a major drawcard for visitors and form the basis for hundreds of tourism businesses.  TIA is involved in the review processes to represent tourism interests and ensure the best possible outcome for operators, as well as protecting the environment.

Mount Aspiring National Park: in late 2007, TIA and the Department of Conservation (DOC) ran two workshops for concessionaires in Wanaka and Queenstown.  As part of its review of the Mount Aspiring National Park Management Plan, DOC is proposing significant changes to the types and frequency of activities in various park zones.  These were presented to operators at an early stage of the review process so they could express their views. TIA anticipates being closely involved as the management review progresses. 

Rakiura National Park: DOC is reviewing the conservation management strategy for Stewart Island/Rakiura, which was approved in 1997, and preparing the first management plan for Rakiura National Park.  Read more about it.
TIA has travelled to Stewart Island with DOC and Ministry of Tourism representatives to discuss the area’s management with local operators.  Their feedback was passed on to DOC’s Southland Conservancy. 

West Coast:  The West Coast Conservation Management Strategy sets out DOC’s intentions for the management of the West Coast conservancy’s five national parks – Kahurangi, Paparoa, West Coast-Tai Poutini, Mt Aspiring and Arthur’s Pass.
TIA has presented a submission to DOC which makes a number of recommendations to clauses that will affect commercial recreation.

Abel Tasman National Park: the draft management plan is being reviewed by the New Zealand Conservation Authority before it is finalised.  TIA has been closely involved in the review process and presented a submission on the plan.

Protecting New Zealand’s marine environment while supporting sustainable tourism businesses has been a focus of TIA’s work in recent months.  The marine environment forms the basis of many tourism operations, whether whale and dolphin watching, diving or sightseeing.

TIA has made submissions to both the Ministry for the Environment’s discussion paper Improving Regulation of Environmental Effects in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Department of Conservation’s Draft Threat Management Plan for Hector and Maui Dolphins.

Both submissions signalled TIA’s willingness to work with authorities to develop balanced conservation management policies that sustain economic development, provide a social return for New Zealanders and allow memorable visitor experiences to be delivered. 

Read TIA’s submission on Improving Regulation of Environmental Effects in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Read TIA’s submission on the Draft Threat Management Plan for Hector and Maui Dolphins.

TIA Sector Manager Geoff Ensor, a former Air New Zealand pilot and chief pilot with Air Safaris at Lake Tekapo, has led several training workshops for chief pilots in the small aircraft and helicopter sector.  The workshops were developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with support from TIA in response to a significant gap in training in the responsibilities of chief pilots. 

Two day workshops were held in Queenstown, Christchurch and Rotorua, covering a variety of topics including effective communication, developing standard operating procedures, risk management and quality assurance.  Those attending included a number of TIA Members.

Feedback from participants was excellent, with 81% rating the workshop very good and 86% saying they had benefited very much from attending.

TIA is part of a group defining what makes Milford Sound special – part of a project to improve the management of the area.  The group has been brought together by Environment Southland and the Department of Conservation (DOC), which both have responsibilities for managing Milford Sound.

As a first step, 1000 visitors to the area are being surveyed about what prompted them to come and how they rated the experience.

TIA was an active participant in the development of the survey, to ensure the questions did not prompt participants’ responses, for instance on the issue of aircraft noise.  More focussed surveys will be carried out if significant issues emerge and the results will contribute to future management decisions for the area.

Read more about the Valuing Milford Sound project.

TIA is continuing to work with operators, the Department of Conservation (DOC) and other interested parties, to improve the safety of trampers using the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.  Trampers have died, and a number have needed rescuing in recent years because they were inadequately prepared for the demands of the Crossing.

TIA promoted and facilitated the development of a transport operators group which has been working this season to establish codes of conduct concerning visitor information and safety.  The group also operates as a single point of contact for communications with DOC, Police and the tourism industry.

Efforts are continuing to enable guiding on the Crossing.  It is a sensitive issue as it involves crossing private land.  TIA believes that guides would not only improve visitors’ experience of the Crossing but would also benefit the safety of all trampers through having experienced personnel using the track regularly.

TIA has called on the government to give tourism companies a practical lead-in time to adapt fleets to the use of biofuels. 

In its submission to the Biofuel Bill, which would require biofuels to be added to New Zealand petrol and diesel supplies, TIA commented that the tourism industry supports the government’s intent to implement policies to counter climate change impacts. 

However, without a practicable lead-in time for tourism companies to adapt fleets and in the absence of an accessible and affordable nationwide supply chain, it will be difficult for the industry to meet the biofuel sales obligations required by the government. 

TIA commented that there is also an absence of quality assurance standards to monitor the use and effectiveness of biofuels.  To encourage take-up, government incentives, such as tax write-offs on depreciating vehicles, may be the kind of incentive needed to make sure more companies can use biofuels.

TIA has offered support to plans for redeveloping Queen’s Wharf to improve Auckland’s cruise ship infrastructure.  With the rapid growth in cruising and a threefold increase in port calls and passengers to New Zealand since 2001, New Zealand’s port facilities – and Auckland's in particular – are coming under increasing pressure.

Better infrastructure to support cruise ships is essential if New Zealand is to capitalise on this lucrative market and provide world class visitor experiences.

Environmental sustainability is the watchword for 2008, but where do you start?

A vast amount of information is available to help tourism operators reduce their impact on the environment – but it can be confusing or impractical for small and medium businesses.

The good news is that every small step makes a difference, whether it is changing to low-energy light bulbs or using eco-friendly cleaning products.

“Climate change is an opportunity for New Zealand to make a difference and lead the way in changing the way we interact with the environment.  We have the opportunity to ensure international visitors feel compelled to travel to New Zealand because we really are 100% Pure and we offer outstanding, world class, ‘sustainable travel’ choices,” TIA Acting Chief Executive Oscar Nathan says.

A key principle of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 (NZTS 2015) is that the tourism industry takes a leading role in protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment.  It sets out a number of actions that the tourism industry can take to achieve that goal.

Many TIA Members are already doing excellent work to become more sustainable.  In this issue of tourism matters we focus on the environmental efforts of White Island Tours, winner of the Green Globe Environmental Award in the Tourism Industry Awards 2007.

The Whakatane-based business takes about 15,000 people a year to visit volcanic White Island.  The tours are supported by a motel, café, shop and shuttle bus from Rotorua.

Senior operations manager Dougal Stewart says White Island Tours’ vision is for “a sustainable future that’s driven by a culture of sustainability”.

But it also has a guiding principle: “while sustainability is very serious, how we go about it doesn’t have to be”.

White Island Tours’ top tips for improving sustainability:

1. Strong management leadership is key but team involvement is vital.  “Without staff buy-in, environmental tasks are seen as low priority or extra duties, compared with dealing with customers, taking bookings or guiding.”
2. Foster team involvement by discussing and allocating environmental tasks at regular team meetings.  Staff can also generate ideas for new ways to improve business performance.  “Mike, our second skipper, has provided information on installing ducts on each boat to enable disposal of biodegradable sick bags.”
3. Start small.  All environmental actions are important, whether it’s switching off an unnecessary light or organising recycling.  “Our head chef worked out he didn’t need to use one oven in the café after 12pm to service café customers.”
4. Involve the team in product selection.  “We’re trying to make it a team sport.  Everybody shops – we’ve had staff involved in selecting bin liners, paper cups, cleaning gloves, eco-light bulbs and cleaning products. One of our cleaners even asked to come in on her day off to hear about eco-friendly gloves.”
5. Appoint energy, water and waste ‘champions’ to monitor usage and encourage colleagues in sustainable practices.
6. Get involved in initiatives like Green Globe and Sustainable Tourism Charters.  They can provide valuable support and assistance.

Team involvement creates a sense of pride and achievement in the workplace, as well as offering opportunities for personal and professional development, Dougal says.

Equally important, it’s good for business.

“Sustainability has really improved our business – it draws us into the finer workings of our operation, into areas that we should be looking at anyway. The reality is we can save a lot of money by being responsible.”

He adds that the appeal sustainable operations hold in the tourism market is another reason why it makes good economic sense to implement best practice.

“Customers, especially international ones, recognise our green efforts and we’ve had some great comments.”