NATIONAL PARKS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 8

NATIONAL PARKS

Industry Seeks Representation The composition of national park boards had not kept pace with the changing times, said Mr J. L. Chapman, president of the New Zealand Travel and Holidays Association, at its annual conference In Christchurch on Saturday. He said that at one time visitors to the country’s 10 national parks were mostly alpinists and experienced trampers and ski enthusiasts. Today, with longer holidays, greater wealth, and better means of transportation, the great majority of visitors were tourists.

But of the 89 members of the 10 national park boards, only two members were directly connected with tourism—two hoteliers on the Westland National Park Board. “You would naturally expect,” said Mr Chapman, “that with proper emphasis on visitors to these parks, there would be widespread representation of tourist interests. . . . There Is a high proportion of dedicated mountaineers on many of the boards. Certainly many of our parks contain mountains, and these alpinists, naturally, have specialised interests, but they are not representative of tourist Interests. “I feel the changing times need a changed outlook, and that the National Parks Act should be amended to provide adequate tourist representation on all park boards. No longer should our public parks be the private reserve of special interests. “With adequate tourist representation on each board, I am confident that the people of New Zealand and our overseas friends will benefit by having an adequate range of facilities catering for all groups. The parks themselves will be properly geared to meet the expansion which Is taking place, and the tourist industry will be able to fulfil its proper role In these vital areas.”