Posts Tagged ‘Catlins’
NZx: April 30th – an (un) certain future?
Naumai
Our environment is changing there can be no doubt. Whether this is due to factors such as human interference, over fishing, climate change, or a combination, many species in NZ face an (un) certain future.
In this blog we explore an (un) certain future for New Zealand sea lions or whakahao/rāpoka. You can out more about these remarkable mammals here and here.
My first encounter with New Zealand sea lions was deep in the myriad of waterways that make up Port Pegasus on Rakiura/Stewart Island. We had seen the sleek creamy brown outline of females in the water as we made our approach to land. Stepping ashore we began to wander through the primeval forest until suddenly a large brown male stood up on it’s hind flippers and roared at us from behind a prostrate rata tree. This was a truly remarkable NZx experience!
Since then I’ve been lucky enough to encounter both sexes on many parts of southern mainland New Zealand and other areas of Rakiura/Stewart Island. A recent journey to Dunedin and the Catlins led to further encounters with a variety of New Zealand sea lions. It is always intriguing when encountering threatened wildlife, that so many of the visitors in these “off the beaten track” places are from overseas. Don’t we as New Zealander’s value what we have?
On a parallel path the potential loss of the Hoiho from mainland New Zealand within a few decades is another indication of how fragile our environment is. You can find more about Hoiho here and here. Despite this bleak lookout for such an iconic species, advocacy around the issue and more importantly potential action, is frustratingly slow and deafeningly quiet.
Where does that leave New Zealand sea lions (whakahao/rāpoka) and their future as an iconic New Zealand species? We have previously commented on the wider issue of economic development and lack of input from tourism operators and environmental interests when it comes to New Zealand sea lions – see our March 2017 blogspot .
Much of our tourism product is based around the broader environment, without a coordinated approach to managing what we have, tourism itself is at risk.
How can we promote ourselves to the world as an environmentally sensitive country, that cares for our taonga, when so much of what makes this country special faces an (un) certain future?
Ka kite ano
NZ Sea lions – Catlins Coast
Port Pegasus
NZx: March 22nd – southern road trip
Naumai
It is always a privilege to “share” Aotearoa / New Zealand. It matters little if the audience is domestic or international , hitting the road to explore our place in the world is one of life’s pleasures.
This summer was however different. Tasked with sharing the southern part of the South Island with a group of international visitors (including over the Chinese New Year period) I reflected on what one might find.
Reading and listening to media headlines I was expecting a constant stream of polluting freedom campers, over priced food and lodging, little space, tired operators, and people literally everywhere – even in my normally quiet haunts and secluded places!
The trip took in every destination and more, between Christchurch and Bluff via the Catlins, Manapouri, Te Anau Queenstown and Wanaka.
So summing up the trip was a great success, we achieved most things we promised our visitors and more. We saw rare and endangered wildlife, meet some fantastic locals, enjoyed great food and wine and the whole gambit of southern landscapes.
That of course is the official version.
My overwhelming impression after ten days on the road in the southern South Island, is of too many people in too many locations. I mean literally no one used to go to Slope Point (the most southern point of mainland NZ) , a full car park at Bluff mid afternoon (great views) and absolutely no where to turn in Wanaka around 4pm.
I am apprehensive when I hear local operators saying that bookings for next year re even higher than this summer, in one case up to a third. What does that mean for tourism’s social license to operate?
Here are some facts:
The number of international visitors coming into NZ averages over 320,000 a month
This is an average yearly growth of over 5.65 for the last ten years
More than one in ten jobs is indirectly generated by tourism
International visitors contribute $ 40 million per day to the economy
And New Zealander’s (2017) views on tourism
96% of us agree tourism is good for NZ 35% think tourism puts too much pressure on NZ 21% think there are too many visitors
Challenges for NZ’s around international visitors include: road congestion, litter and a high risk of motor accidents
In earlier blogs we have discussed the opportunities and challenges for tourism in maintaining and enhancing a social license to operate. Some initiatives such as Tourism Aotearoa’s sustainable tourism are small step in the right direction. But if this years southern experience on the road is next years reality, then we have a serious problem – with no coordinated response in sight.
Ka kite ano
Visitors on the beach – Moeraki Boulders