Our national parks - Canterbury CMS draft place
National parks are the jewels in the conservation crown. Canterbury's two national parks both straddle the Southern Alps/Ka Tiritiri o te Moana, encompassing iconic mountains and valleys.
To Ngāi Tahu, Aoraki represents the most sacred of ancestors, from whom Ngāi Tahu descend. Aoraki/Mt Cook has Tōpuni status, a public symbol of Ngāi Tahu manawhenua and rangatiratanga.
The park is also part of Te Waipounamu - South Westland World Heritage Area in recognition of its outstanding natural values.
You have told us that Aoraki/Mt Cook is a special place
Both national parks have visitor centres, and receive thousands of visitors each year, both domestic and international tourists. Both have park-based communities that are actively engaged in conservation projects; e.g. the Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust.
Arthur's Pass National Park is a key site for biodiversity projects such as the orange-fronted parakeet/kakariki recovery project.
We want to hear from you
Potential extensions to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park have been indentified, which would require a section 8 National Park Act process. These extensions potentially will protect the glacial landscape from the mountains to Lake Pukaki.
- Do you like this idea?
- What else is important to you for protecting the local landscape?
You told us that Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps are special places to you as New Zealanders.
- What do you want DOC to do to reflect this?
- What do you want to see happening in these parks?
For more information
Email canterbury.cms@doc.govt.nz
Call a member of the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board - contact Canterbury Conservancy office to be put in touch with board members.