9.3 Monitoring and reporting
Ngā mahi tirohanga me ngā pūrongo
9.3.1 Management considerations
National park management plans are required to identify what regular monitoring and evaluation should be undertaken to assess the effects of activities on national park values and specify what actions should be taken if there are any adverse effects on those values.
The Department is also required to provide the Conservation Board with a report (at least annually) on the implementation of national park management plans.
Monitoring will be carried out by the Department to ensure that the management plan is being implemented effectively, that the provisions of the plan are still current and that they are best serving the interests of the Park.
The principal measure of management performance will be the extent to which the management objectives and other outcomes set out in this plan are being achieved. Performance information about inputs, process and outputs may also contribute to this evaluation.
The selection and testing of performance indicators is a complex and potentially costly process, for which there are no national standards or guidelines for national parks in New Zealand. A range of topics and issues are already monitored through a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. The monitoring system for the Park is therefore
expected to develop and change during the plan period, and will for the time being focus on key operational outcomes, such as monitoring the effectiveness of animal pest control operations and visitor use of the Whanganui River corridor.
Specific monitoring indicators and measures for effective management are provided within this management plan at each chapter, and priorities will be agreed with and reported on to the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board. Examples of specific techniques to monitor outcomes range from monitoring the changes in population of threatened species through to monitoring visitor satisfaction and the numbers of people using visitor facilities.
9.3.2 Objective
- To provide feedback to the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board, Whanganui River Māori Trust Board, tāngata whenua and other interested parties on the achievement of objectives contained within this plan.
9.3.3 Policies
- The Department will monitor progress towards the achievement of the objectives and implementation of policies set out in this management plan.
- The Department will provide monitoring reports to the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board at least annually, indicating progress towards implementing the policies and achieving the objectives of this plan. These reports will also be made available to Whanganui River Māori Trust Board, tāngata whenua (through mana whakahaere) and the general public.
- The Department will work with the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board, Whanganui River Māori Trust Board, tāngata whenua and others to establish a concise indicator set (of no more than 20 indicators) that reflect overall progress made in meeting the outcomes sought for the Park.