Regional Economic Impacts of West Coast Conservation Land

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Summary

The report was prepared by Christchurch-based economists, Butcher Partners, and released by Conservation Minister Chris Carter on 8 June 2004 at the first Tourism on Public Conservation Lands Forum in Wellington.

The report calculates that economic activity dependent on DOC and public conservation land on the West Coast totals $221m a year in gross output, and supports about 1814 full time equivalent jobs in the region. The bulk of the economic activity identified in this report – 1450 jobs - is derived from tourism and outdoor recreation using conservation land or dependent on the appeal of it to pull in visitors. Income being earned for households from activity dependent on West Coast conservation land was about $62m a year, making that activity a significant part of the region's economy.

Mr Carter said that "The study explicitly demonstrates that the protection of natural environments does not prevent significant economic activity arising from them, it simply puts the needs of our threatened native species and the recreation opportunities of New Zealanders first." Tourism Minister Mark Burton said the study again showed that tourism continued to drive growth across the regions of New Zealand.

Chris Carter said the study also showed there were a wide variety of other economic activities occurring on conservation land. "For instance, concessions on the West Coast for farming, mining, and sphagnum moss harvesting on conservation land, are supporting about 149 full time equivalent jobs," Mr Carter said."

Publication information

This report, commissioned by the Department of Conservation (DOC), demonstrates how significant West Coast public conservation land and the activities of the DOC are to the West Coast regional economy.