Waikaremoana Great Walk receives largest increase in bookings among Great Walks
Great Walk bed night bookings across New Zealand are up by more than 10,000 compared with last year.
Potaka said
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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Cafe owner protests Punakaiki parking charges
The DOC carpark at Punakaiki can be packed in summer. Photo: Lois Williams / LDR A Punakaiki café owner is urging the Conservation Department to rethink its plan to charge for parking at the famous Pancake Rocks on the West Coast. Grant Parrett told a meeting of the West Coast Tai o Poutini Conservation Board this week that parking charges create de facto entry fee to (Paparoa) National Park, which was unlawful. Photo: Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has asked for a trial of paid parking to boost revenue. DOC is aiming to launch a pilot programme in October at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and White Horse Hill at Aoraki Mt Cook. Project manager John Dore told the Board that DOC had serious budget pressures including a 30 percent shortfall in funding for its visitor network and a huge deficit in the amount available for biodiversity. "For protection of all endangered species we have a budget of $300 million - but a need of $2.3 billion," Dore said. Climate events in the last few years had added $90 million in costs, he added. Paid parking was a tool used internationally in nature parks and would help manage overcrowding at busy sites, he told the board. But Parrett said the move would turn public conservation land into a Wilsons-style parking lot, and urged the board to oppose it. A business owner says parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee. Photo: Lois Williams / LDR "However you label it, it's a National Park entry fee; it contravenes the National Parks Act and it diminishes DOC's social license to operate." There were no free parks at Punakaiki because they had been removed to make room for the new Visitor Centre development and people would have no option but to pay to walk around the Pancake Rocks, Parrett said. Unlike Franz Josef or Aoraki Mt Cook, Punakaiki was not a tourist destination but a stop-off attraction for people driving the scenic Coast Road, and for most of the year there was no congestion or capacity problem in the carpark, he said. "Parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee or to stretch their legs, and we don't want this," he said. While DOC owned the land, taxpayers had funded the $45 million Dolomite Point Visitor Centre development and the building was gifted by the last government to manawhenua, NgatiWaewae, who now leased office space back to DOC. The public has paid for this development and costs should be kept low, he said. "I am surprised that the iwi has supported the paid parking trial … unless they stand to benefit from it," Parrett said. If people had to pay for parking they might be less likely to pay for Ngati Waewae's interactive visitor experience inside, he suggested. Ngati Waewae's representative on the Conservation Board, Francois Tumahai, objected. "I disagree with everything you've said. The cost of the building was not $45 million and we're not getting a cent from the project. In the early days we suggested we might provide (parking) wardens … that's it." Parrett suggested it would be good if the iwi put out a statement to that effect in the interests of transparency. The iwi leader responded: "You're the one causing all the grief - you put it out." Board chairperson Dr Mike Legge closed off the discussion and thanked Parrett for his contribution to the public forum. The new visitor centre opened in November 2024. Photo: LDR / SUPPLIED The Dolomite Point Visitor Centre, funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, was budgeted to cost $26 million but the project - including the new carparks - received a funding boost of $15 million in 2023 and cost a total of $40.9 million. The paid parking trial, including charging technology and upgrades to carparks at the three sites, is being funded by $3.8 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. DOC plans to release its pricing strategy early next month and hold public drop-in sessions at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and Aoraki in mid August. Submissions close on August 26 for Punakaiki, and September 30 for Aoraki. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Government and Ngāti Maniapoto iwi to build 40 affordable rental homes in Te Kūiti
The government is partnering with Ngāti Maniapoto to build 40 rental homes in Te Kūiti. Photo: Waitomo District Council / The government is partnering with Ngāti Maniapoto to build 40 affordable rental homes in Te Kūiti, as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement. The government has approved in principle $17 million for the partnership, while the iwi will contribute $11m - representing 50 percent of the housing supply costs and the land. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said the area had a high housing need . "With over a third of Te Kūiti residents renting, the limited availability of rental properties makes it difficult for whānau to secure stable housing," he said. "We're taking action to help address this shortage, which will also help local businesses because employers can struggle to attract and retain staff due to the lack of affordable housing. This mahi can mean a world of difference for whānau in small rural communities that need stable employment and incomes. "The development, named Te Kirikiri, will feature affordable rentals of a mixed typology to meet the diverse needs of kaumātua and young whānau, consisting of 20 two-bedroom accessible homes for kaumātua, 13 three-bedroom homes and 7 four-bedroom homes." Building was scheduled to begin next month and would take about two years to complete. "These affordable rentals will support Ngāti Maniapoto's ambition to place 200 whānau in safe, secure, high-quality and affordable homes by 2030." Potaka said there had been very little residential development in Maniapoto over the last 40 years and this development would be one of the largest for many years. Only about 25 percent of iwi members owned a home, he said. The investment was part of a $200 million commitment announced earlier this year to accelerate Māori housing projects nationwide, and enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas by the end of June 2027. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Affordable Homes To Address Te Kūiti Housing Shortage
Associate Minister of Housing Mā te hononga ka whai kaha. Te Kūiti whānau will enjoy greater access to modern affordable rental housing thanks to an Iwi-led partnership backed by the Government, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The Government has approved in principle $17million into a partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto that will build 40 affordable rental homes with infrastructure in Te Kūiti, giving effect to the Crown's Treaty of Waitangi settlement commitment with the iwi. The Iwi will also contribute a significant portion to the development including $11million - representing 50 percent of the housing supply costs - and the land. 'This is an area of high housing need. With over a third of Te Kūiti residents renting, the limited availability of rental properties makes it difficult for whānau to secure stable housing,' Mr Potaka says. 'We're taking action to help address this shortage, which will also help local businesses because employers can struggle to attract and retain staff due to the lack of affordable housing. This mahi can mean a world of difference for whānau in small rural communities that need stable employment and incomes. 'The development, named Te Kirikiri, will feature affordable rentals of a mixed typology to meet the diverse needs of kaumātua and young whānau, consisting of 20 two-bedroom accessible homes for kaumātua, 13 three-bedroom homes and7 four-bedroom homes. 'Work is scheduled to begin next month and will take about two years to complete. 'Te Kirikiri will incorporate tikanga Māori and kaupapa-led design principles, and include the use of wetlands, native grasses, trees, and shrubs to create safe, communal spaces for whānau to enjoy. 'These affordable rentals will support Ngāti Maniapoto's ambition to place 200 whānau in safe, secure, high-quality and affordable homes by 2030.' The Government investment is part of a $200 million commitment announced earlier this year that will accelerate Māori housing projects across the country and enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas by the end of June 2027.
