Media release
17 June 2019
DOC steps up tourism industry compliance and enforcement
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is sending a strong message to tourism operators that they must comply with the law
when operating on public conservation land.
DOC has released figures from a targeted compliance programme focusing on guiding and transport operators at high volume
tourist sites in the South Island this summer.
Te Wāipounamu compliance initiative employed rangers on fixed term contracts to carry out checks on operators at
Punakaiki, South Westland, Wanaka, Wakatipu and Te Anau. The initiative found that while most operators were working
within their permit conditions, about a quarter were found to have either breached their conditions or were operating
illegally.
In instances where the concessionaire was found to be in breach of their conditions, or an operator was found to be
operating commercially without the required concession, DOC sent a compliance letter to the operator. This provided
information on applying for either the relevant concession or a variation to an existing concession. Operators were
given a deadline to complete the necessary actions or cease activity.
Non-responsive operators or complex cases were escalated for investigation by DOC’s National Compliance Team.
Southern South Island Director Aaron Fleming says DOC is committed to ensuring people play by the rules when they
interact with our wildlife and special places on public conservation land.
“We are responsible for managing more than a third of New Zealand’s land area and we want to make sure we are doing so
in a way that supports and protects conservation and is fair for all users, including tourism operators – many of whom
go above and beyond to contribute to the special places their businesses rely on. Most operators work hard to ensure
they are following the conditions of their permits. When operators don’t, it’s not only unfair to those following the
rules, but poses a risk to our native places and species,” says Aaron Fleming.
“We noticed that later in the season, once word spread that DOC was doing compliance checks, more operators started
complying.
“Even commercial operators with existing concessions are being put on notice. If they breach the concession, DOC is
prepared to suspend or terminate under the terms of the concession contracts.”
DOC’s National Compliance Strategy draws attention to the more than 4,000 permissions and concessions issued by DOC, and the need to ensure operators
comply with the concessions system which applies on public conservation land and in relation to marine mammal tourism.
The issue of non-compliance by commercial guiding companies who don’t obtain a concession is one focus area for DOC’s
National Compliance Team, which has employed two full time investigators to handle concessions-related breaches of
conservation law.
Aaron Fleming says that DOC will use the full force of the law if need be.
“We educate and inform in the first instance, and follow up with penalties or court action if the behaviour is ongoing,”
he says.
If you notice someone breaking the rules on conservation land, ring DOCHOT 0800 362 468. Illegal activity includes:
• illegal whitebaiting
• vandalism of huts and tracks
• removal of plants from reserves
• killing or catching native wildlife
• fishing in marine reserves
• disturbing marine mammals
• commercial guiding without a concession.
–Ends–
Background information
DOC invested approximately $300,000 in tourism concessions compliance in the Te Wāipounamu (Southern South Island and
Western South Island) regions from October 2018 until April 2019.
Te Wāipounamu Compliance operation
Figures from 1 November 2018 to 10 April 2019:DistrictNo. Concession Activities CheckedNo. ComplyingNo. Condition BreachesNo. Alleged IllegalsSouth Westland4473596127Central Otago146113227Wakatipu5043418838Fiordland2445175860582Grand Total (Count)35422571776154Grand Total (%)72.6%21.9%4.3%
Of 2,445 activities checked in Fiordland 79% were parking, 13% were guiding, and 6% were from a joint government agency
operation that targeted drivers on the Milford Road. 21% of the parking activities were non-compliant. 67% of the
guiding activities were non-compliant.