Tribe threatens action over national parks draft plan

Ngai Tahu is threatening to take the Government to court to enforce its customary right to carry out economic activity within South Island national parks, including a gondola development.

The iwi, which plans to build a $100 million gondola linking Queenstown and Milford, is understood to be negotiating with the Conservation Authority and has demanded new national park policies recognise the iwi's "economic interests".

It is understood the iwi has threatened to seek a judicial review if the authority fails to make changes to a draft national park policy released last year.

The talks have delayed the release of the Government's new general policy on national parks, which was due to replace a 22-year-old policy earlier this year.

Ngai Tahu has objected to a clause specifically banning gondolas in national parks, which would quash its own gondola plans in the Fiordland National Park.

Neither Ngai Tahu nor the authority would comment on the talks, but a submission made to the authority by Ngai Tahu more than a year ago requests that the national park policy recognise the "economic interests" of Maori.

On the gondola issue the submission says: "It is inappropriate to single out a particular activity over another, particularly when there is a known interest in this activity".

This year, the iwi called for the creation of an exclusive amenity area created within the park to allow for the possible development of the gondola.

Authority chairman Kerry Marshall confirmed it was involved in talks over issues the iwi had raised, but declined to say what these were. He believed the talks would result in a good outcome.

Many different groups undertake commercial activity in parks, based on a concession system. Operators apply and pay for the right to carry out a wide range of activities.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter is overseas and unavailable for comment.

A spokesman said he was aware there were several outstanding issues to be resolved in relation to the general policy for parks.

The decision on the final wording lay with the authority, which develops policy for the Department of Conservation, he said.

Yesterday, Federated Mountain Clubs president John Wilson said it was disappointing the iwi threats had come so late in the policy process.

"They are interpreting customary rights to include commercial activity ... the FMC does not feel they should have extra access to operations above anyone else."

He said the FMC was opposed to the gondola development.

- NZPA