Aoraki/Mount Cook

Image: Danilo Hegg | ©

Draft Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan

Introduction

Have your say on the draft National Park Management Plan for Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. The date for the close of submissions has been extended. Submissions now close 4 February 2019.

A National Park Management Plan (NPMP) is a statutory document that provides integrated management objectives for the protection of the flora, fauna, natural and cultural features of the national park including the management of recreation, tourism and other activities in the park.

How to submit

The draft Aoraki/Mount Cook NPMP is publicly notified on 8 September 2018. Any member of the public can lodge a written submission on the draft no later than 4 pm Monday 4 February 2019

You can put in a submission by emailing a submission form to aorakinp@doc.govt.nz or by post to: 

Aoraki/Mount Cook NPMP Submissions
Department of Conservation
Private Bag 4715
Christchurch 8140

Submission form (Word, 517K)

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of their submission should state this in their submission.

Hearings will be after the close of submissions and dates will be confirmed once the full extent and number of submissions is known.   

This printable factsheet contains the information on this webpage about submitting on the draft Aoraki/Mount Cook NPMP.

View the plan

Draft Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan (PDF, 9,268K)

Maps in the draft Plan

Download maps as individual files:

Hard copies of the plan can be inspected during working hours between 9 am and 4:30 pm at:

What to look for in the draft Aoraki/Mount Cook NPMP

The draft NPMP has been written in consultation with the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board and in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and kaitiaki rūnaka, and after consultation of key stakeholders and the public.  The rūnanga have taken this opportunity to share their values, relationship and aspiration for the Park. This has been done through cultural narratives, whakataukī (Ngāi Tahu proverbs), and design elements which have been used to identify and guide the Parts and sections within the NPMP.

The parts and sections of the NPMP are:

  • Part One:  Kei Te Pūtaki o Aoraki te Mana e Huna Ana [Whole-of-park management]

This part provides a vision for the Park, a partnership framework for achieving an enduring living Treaty partnership and objectives and policies for the overarching management of activities in the Park.

  • Part Two:  Whāia kā paeroa ka tae ki Aoraki [Places]

Five Places have been recognised within the Park based on commonality of landscapes, ecosystems, values, uses and management issues. For each Place the key values and management considerations are identified, together with planned outcomes to be achieve over the life of the plan. Policies and milestones set out the actions and key steps to achieve the outcomes. 

  • Part Three:  Aoraki Whakaoka Raki

Policies for implementation, monitoring and reporting.

In the last 10 years, the Park has experienced significant increases in the number of New Zealanders and international visitors coming to the Park and changing expectations of those people for the use of the Park facilities. The Nohoaka Place (Village and front country area) has been subject to the greatest increases in visitors as it is the focus for the majority of day visitors. The Department is seeking feedback from the public about the proposed approach to managing the Place. Discussion boxes in the NPMP provide additional information about a proposed Spatial Plan and Village management, to be read alongside the outcomes, policies and milestones.

Your submission

We would like to hear from you.

If you agree with what the NPMP states regarding your place or issue of interest, then great!  Put in a submission supporting the relevant provisions.

If you don’t agree with a provision in the NPMP please let us know why and what you would like changed.

Also, please let us know whether you would like to present your submission (be heard) in person before a panel of representatives from DOC, Iwi and the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board.

More information

Further background information on the developed draft plan can be found here:

What happens next

When the submission period is over (4pm Monday 4 February 2019), DOC will collate all the submissions received and a hearing(s) will be held for all those submitters who asked to be heard. Once the hearings are completed DOC will revise the draft NPMP based on submissions received (not just those submitters who asked to be heard). In some cases, changes may not be possible due to legislative or other constraints. Either way, you will be advised on DOC’s response to your submission and the reasons for that approach.

The revised draft NPMP is then sent to the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board for its consideration. Further changes may be made to the draft before it is sent to the New Zealand Conservation Authority for approval.

Once approved it will replace the current operational Aoraki/Mount Cook NPMP 2004 

Contact

If you have any further questions email aorakinp@doc.govt.nz

Submissions invited on adjoining Westland Tai Poutini National Park

The draft National Park Management Plan for the adjoining Westland Tai Poutini National Park is notified at the same time and written submissions are invited no later than 4 pm Monday 4 February 2019.

Draft Westland Tai Poutini National Park Management Plan

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