Mt Cook helicopter ban lifted

Press, 4 June 1984, Page 1

Mt Cook helicopter ban lifted

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

A rare concession was won by the Mount Cook Line on Saturday, permitting it to use a helicopter in the Mount Cook National Park.

The park’s management plan specifically bans helicopters, other than those needed for search and rescue work. The Mount Cook Company and the Tourist Hotel Corporation have been keen to introduce helicopter sightseeing flights for visitors to the park similar to those introduced — after much resistance from the Westland National Park Board — to Franz Josef three years ago. The visit of the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, to Mount Cook during the week-end for the Hermitage centennial celebrations gave a powerful opportunity for the Mount Cook Line to seek, and gain, the pre-cedent-setting concession. Permission was at first refused by the chief ranger, Mr Ray Slater. However, his decision was overturned later by the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Christchurch, Mr L. Kenworthy. The helicopter flew over the Alps from Franz Josef and landed on the lawn in front of the Hermitage about midday. It then carried the Prime Minister to the Mount Cook Airport where he boarded a skiplane for a landing on the Tasman Glacier. Sir Robert was later picked up from the glacier by the helicopter and given a close-up scenic view of

the icefalls round Mount Cook before being flown back direct to the Hermitage. In his address to guests at the Hermitage banquet on Saturday evening, Sir Robert noted that the theme set for the planned centennial celebration of New Zealand’s national parks in 1987 would be “Parks for the People.” “I commend that theme for now as well as in 1987,” he said. Praising the co-operative work being accomplished at Mount Cook, Sir Robert said that the carefully planned expansion of the village and the work done to create a better environment for motorists and pedestrians were outstanding examples of environmentally compatible tourist development. Mr Slater confirmed to “The Press” that there had been local criticism about the use of the helicopter on Saturday.

Asked to comment, the Minister of Tourism, Mr Talbot, said it was a “special occasion.” However, he said that he would like to see greater flexibility in the Park Board’s plan which would allow a helicopter to be used for scenic flights. “It should be remembered that national parks are for all people,” he said. “I believe we should look at some limited, controlled access for helicopters.” The Franz Josef helicopter service has proved exceptionally popular, particular with visitors with limited time and when bad weather prevents ski-plane landings at higher altitudes. Further report, page 2