This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application.
Application details
Applicant: Tourism Holdings Ltd
Application number: 119957-GUI
Location of proposed activity: Aranui Cave, Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, Waikato region – see 'Location maps of proposed activity' application document link below.
Summary of proposal:
Tourism Holdings Ltd (trading as “Discover Waitomo”) requires a lease for exclusive use of Aranui Cave and a license for facilities and structures within Ruakari Reserve leading to Aranui Cave. A permit is also required for guiding activities they conduct in Aranui Cave and the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve. This application is to allow an existing activity to continue for a proposed term of 10 years.
Concession applied for: Lease, licence and permit.
Application documents:
Tourism Holdings (trading as “Discover Waitomo”) application (PDF, 1,163K)
Location maps of proposed activity (PDF, 578K)
How to make a subission
Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Submissions close on 12 December 2025 at 11.59 pm.
1. Prepare your submission
Record what you think in the submission form:
Any person or organisation wishing to be heard at a possible hearing in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.
2. Send us your submission
You can make a submission by sending the written or electronic submission form to:
Email: AskPermissions@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Submission on application 119957-GUI
Post:
Director General
Department of Conservation
Hamilton Office
Private Bag 3072
Hamilton 3240
Attention: Jessica Langley, Permissions Advisor
Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.
What happens next
After submissions close:
- DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
- A hearing may be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this.
- DOC will analyse and consider information raised at a hearing if any hearing occurs.
- DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation’s delegated representative.
- The Minister of Conservation’s delegated representative will make a decision on the application.
Hearing details
If a hearing is required for any of these applications, a date will be arranged and those wishing to be heard informed.
Decision
No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.
DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications
The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.
Contact
If you have any questions about the application or the submission process, email AskPermissions@doc.govt.nz.