Report of Representative on National Parks Authority

During the year ended March 31, 1958, five meetings of the Authority were held, Dr. J. T. Salmon attending one meeting and I the other four, two of which were held in Wellington, one at Arthurs Pass, and one at Takaka, when visits were paid to various parts of the Abel Tasman Park.

The Chairman of the Authority since its inception, Mr. D. M. Greig, Head of the Department of Lands and Survey, retired in March, after presiding for the last time at the meeting of the Authority held in Takaka. The Authority has approached the N.Z. Geographic Board asking that Mr. Greig's services be commemorated by conferring his name on a group of peaks in the Arthurs Pass National Park.

The Authority now deals with eight National Parks under the National Parks Act of 1952. They are: Urewera (119,614 acres); Tongariro (161,538 acres); Egmont (80,681 acres); Abel Tasman (40,622 acres); Nelson Lakes (139,833 acres); Arthurs Pass (239,152 acres); Mt. Cook (151,800 acres); Fiordland (2,959,793 acres); a total of 3,893,033 acres.

Park Boards have been established for Tongariro, Egmont, Abel Tasman, Arthurs Pass and Mt. Cook, and are in the process of being established for Urewera, Nelson Lakes and Fiordland. In a number of the parks small changes in boundaries have been made generally by the acquisition of small areas adjoining and jutting on to the parks.

During the year an attractive booklet, “New Zealand National Parks,” has been issued by the Authority which provides brief but very informative descriptions of each park, useful maps and well chosen photographs. The typescript of a larger publication giving historical, descriptive and scientific information on the Tongariro National Park is now being edited. The publication is on the lines of that previously written by James Cowan, only in greater detail.

The Tongariro and the Arthurs Pass National Parks represent the regions where developments are proceeding most rapidly, and both Park Boards have been very active in organising these areas to meet the increasing influx of visitors. In the Tongariro National Park the developments mentioned in last year's report have continued to extend, more buldings have been erected, to the extent that both the Authority and the Park Board have refused a number of requests and consider a halt should be called in the Chateau sector of the Park and that a transfer of interest to the Ohakune sector of the Park should be encouraged.

At Arthurs Pass township a number of improvements have been effected, including the completion of a very fine stone church possessed of striking architecture appropriate to its setting. In addition, plans have been prepared and a site cleared for a museum and recreation hall. A comprehensive botanical collection including a very large number of species collected from all parts of the Park has been established adjacent to the main road. The Arthurs Pass National Park at the Temple Basin and on the Craigieburn range provides excellent facilities for some six or more ski-ing clubs whose members have been very co-operative with the Park Board in developing tracks, building hostels and equipping the runways. The Board is pursuing an active policy of encouraging easy tramping recreation both on the West Coast and Canterbury sides of the Park.

In the Egmont National Park much consideration has been given during the year to the tenure, maintenance and future of the several hostels established there.

The Abel Tasman Park Board has been active in developing access tracks from the Mairehau, Canaan and Totaranui approaches to the Park. This is to meet the recreational needs which are rapidly growing as instanced by there being often 1,500 visitors to the difficult of access Totaranui Beach during week-ends. Forest regeneration and a revival of native bird life are reported in this Park, despite the presence of vermin.

In the Nelson Lakes Park, various improvements have been made to Lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua, some adjoining properties have been absorbed into the Park, and some surveys made for future access routes.

At Mt. Cook, a ranger's house has been erected and a ranger appointed. This marks the beginning of developments in this region. Already plans are being made for the establishment of a botanical reserve in fairly close proximity to the new Hermitage.

The Fiordland Park Board is now in course of being established, and one permanent ranger has been appointed. This Park presents problems of very great difficulty, but the Authority is receiving very valuable assistance from the Deerstalkers' Association and various Southland and Otago bodies in the initial steps now being taken.

The Authority was not successful in the endeavour made to have four takahe eggs collected in Fiordland hatched in the Wairarapa, but very useful experience was gained.

The authority feels that it should persist in this endeavour on account of the possible risks threatening the small colony of these birds in their sanctuary. An expedition in this Park has been successful in locating the kakapo, another bird considered to be on the verge of extinction.

Considering the smallness of the funds available, the various Park Boards have made notable achievements in developing their areas during the year. Some have raised further funds