Craters of Moon to be user-pays

Popular Taupo walking spot Craters of the Moon is the latest area in the Central North Island to become user-pays.

The thermal area just north of Taupo used to be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation (DOC) but now comes under the Ministry of Tourism and the trust running it needs to come up with at least $50,000 a year for maintenance.

Trustee Jeremy Nash said more was needed on top of that to reseal the road and turn the park into a reserve.

About 120,000 people visit the area every year.

The trust is now responsible for maintaining the park, walkways, viewing area, toilet blocks, water supply, car park and the road. In the past the DOC paid for the upkeep and money made from donations was given to the community.

Mr Nash said the Government had now told the trust the operation had to be stand-alone.

DOC spokesman Dave Lumley said the land was not being used as public conservation land so was not under his department's jurisdiction.

Originally there were plans to redesignate the area as conservation land but that was not going to happen with Contact Energy using the area, so the Ministry of Tourism had taken over, he said.

Residents and tourists spoken to yesterday did not seem too worried about the new charge. Betty Stockman from Taupo's Monday Walking Group was all for charging people.

"Where else do you go in the world were you don't have to pay?"

Mrs Stockman said volunteers did a good job of watching people's cars and keeping the reserve clean and the area needed to be user-pays. A group of visitors spoken to said the price seemed fair and all said they would come back despite having to pay.

Mr Nash said the trust could have opted out of the park altogether but decided if a private commissioner was appointed, as would have happened, the charges would be even higher.

Craters of the Moon is also popular with mountain bikers but they won't be affected as their trails go through forest rather than the thermal area.

Mr Nash said the trust would have liked to have had a separate charge for locals but it would be too hard to implement.

- DAILY POST