Overseas tourists targeted to boost DoC funds

SAVING KIWI: Conservation Minister Maggie Barry in Northland last weekend. Photo/Lindy Laird

Overseas tourists will help protect New Zealand's natural world by paying more to stay in Department of Conservation huts and other facilities.

A new charging regime for foreign visitors is expected to be included in a pre-election announcement by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.

New Zealanders will be exempted from paying the new fees, and beds or huts will remain available to them through a quota system, Ms Barry told the Northern Advocate earlier this week.

"As a Government, we're firmly of the view tourism should contribute directly. Are we going to be doubling the border levy? No."

The policy announcement is expected to outline the Government's plans for "differential charging" - higher fees for overseas visitors, students and children than New Zealanders.

"New Zealanders pay rates and taxes. I consider that to be our contribution," Ms Barry said.

She told the children from overseas would be charged the same fees as adults for staying at Department of Conservation (DoC) facilities.

Incoming tourists would be charged at the point of booking.

Money made in a DoC area would go back into that conservation area.

The Conservation Ministry was unable to reply before edition time to questions about which, if any, Northland DoC facilities might be affected.

There are 16 DoC camping grounds in Northland, and cabins in wilderness settings at Peach Cove, Lane Cove, Cape Brett and Puketi Forest.

The concession rates paid by private, iwi and other enterprises running tourist or conservation support operations in the DoC estate would also be raised, Ms Barry said.

Northland concession holders include wildlife and eco-tours by Footprints Waipoua and Twilight Encounters.

There nearly 6000 concessions operating throughout New Zealand, including marine tourism.

The fees and contracts paid by companies operating within protected areas are failing to support conservation efforts, Ms Barry said.

A study by Victoria University released earlier this year suggested DoC spent roughly a third of its budget subsidising tourism, but received little in return.

In contrast, only nine per cent of DoC's annual budget came from the tourism industry, which included concessions from operators, tourist user fees, donations and sponsorship.