Mt Cook National Park

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 10

Mt Cook National Park

Sir, —As has been rightly pointed out in the Manapouri controversy. National Parks are our heritage. It is disturbing to see how little the Mount Cook National Park Board is doing to enable the average New Zealander to enjoy the park. Cheap accommodation in a fairly remote park is a first essential. Has the park board any plans (1) to improve the motor camp, (2) provide cabins for middle-income families, (3) encourage the Mount Cook Motels to erect more units? The Hermitage tours to the Tasman Glacier are not advertised in the park headquarters. Are the rangers available to guide the public

to more inaccessible parts of the park? Will the shop, run by the park board, be improved to be of more use to visitors? The Mount Cook Park should be a place for enjoyment and learning for our New Zealand children, not for a once-in-a-lifetime visit which is all many families can afford.—Yours, etc., * ALISON NEALE, January 28, 1970. [Mr G. Mollett, chairman of the Mount Cook National Park Board, replies: “It is not the function of the board to provide accommodation and such services at the park. These are basically the function of those who cater for the tourlist industry. Over the last few months there had been considerable publicity given to the work of a special team whose purpose it is to bring down a report outlining the orderly development of the; [Hermitage area to best advantage. The adoption of this re-j port, which has been submitted to all interested parties, for consideration and comment, is confidently expected in the near future and will provide the Mount Cook Park Board with the framework on which to plan for the facilities to cater for the increasing demands at the park.”]