Final Refuge

Forest and Bird, Issue 185, 1 August 1972, Page 1

Final Refuge

THE Prime Minister, the Minister of Electricity, and the Minister of Lands, Forests, and Environment visited Fiordland National Park on 8 July to look over Manapouri and Te Anau and meet representatives of organisations who are desperately anxious to avoid any alteration in the levels of Lake Manapouri or fluctuations in the levels of Lake Te Anau. Fiordland National Park is probably the greatest national park in the world — and, we think, the most beautiful — containing unique birds and bush and majestic mountains which enclose beautiful lakes. Fiordland National Park is controlled by a national park board under the general direction of the National Parks Authority. The National Park Act places on these bodies a heavy responsibility in that it directs as follows: 3. (1) It is hereby declared that the provisions of this Act shall have effect for the purpose of preserving in perpetuity as national parks, for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, areas of New Zealand that contain scenery of such distinctive quality or natural features so beautiful or unique that their preservation is in the national interest. (2) It is hereby further declared that, having regard to the general purposes specified in subsection one of this section, national parks shall be so administered and maintained under the provisions of this Act that — (a) They shall be preserved as far as possible in their natural state: (b) Except where the Authority otherwise determines, the native flora and fauna of the parks shall as far as possible be preserved and the introduced flora and fauna shall as far as possible be exterminated: (c) Their value as soil, water, and forest conservation areas shall be maintained: (d) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to the imposition of such conditions and restrictions as may be necessary for the preservation of the native flora and fauna or for the welfare in general of the parks, the public shall have freedom of entry and access to the parks, so that they may receive in full

measure the inspiration, enjoyment, recreation, and other benefits that may be derived from mountains, forests, sounds, lakes, and rivers.

These provisions evoked warm praise internationally and mean precisely what they say: the parks are to be maintained in their natural state; fauna and flora are to be preserved; soil and water values maintained; the people shall have the right of entry. However, the appointed authorities are charged with the inescapable duty of seeing that the natural features of the park are safeguarded against any threat, whether hydro-electric power plants, mining ventures, or introduced animals. Indeed long-term plans are now being formulated to safeguard the parks against overuse by much greater populations with more leisure time.

The indigenous flora and fauna of New Zealand are the product of nature’s evolution, evolving century after century undisturbed by browsing or carnivorous mammals and producing a plant and bird association unlike anything elsewhere on earth and inherently precious. Once destroyed, they are gone for ever, lost to posterity; their final refuge is in national parks. No economic or monetary consideration can ever warrant the destruction of our unique national park values and this is the ultimate test. Members of national parks boards are intelligent folk who can be expected to use common sense in all their deliberations when facing problems, but it must always be remembered they are trustees with a solemn obligation to safeguard from debasement or destruction parks set aside for the people in perpetuity.