KEY POINTS:
The Auckland Regional Council wants to sharpen its parks' bylaw to better protect its visitors and property from human pests.
When the bylaw was framed 40 years ago, the most intrusive noise likely to annoy a peaceful picnic was a small transistor blaring out Radio Hauraki rock songs.
Now, nature lovers could be sharing a grassy beach reserve with 200 teenagers dancing to car boomboxes, and text messaging more to join them.
Up to 60 incidents a year of dangerous driving and cars spinning tyres and speeding are being reported.
Property damage has also escalated, rangers say. Recently, a new toilet at Mills Bay, Huia, was left roofless after thieves cut out the macrocarpa roof beams and carted them away.
And up to half a dozen times a year, people refuse to follow a rangers' instructions.
"Most park users come to enjoy themselves and respect the rights of others and the park environment," says an officers' report to the council on the need for a fresh bylaw.
But with five to six million visits annually, it was inevitable that the behaviour of some park users affected the enjoyment of others.
"Visitor studies show visitors are far less satisfied with other visitors to the park than with other factors."
A 2005 survey of 1000 people over 18 indicated half of the people in the region visited a regional park that year and had enjoyed it.
But activities such as teenage drinking, loud music and cars, rubbish and litter caused problems at scenic jewels such as Long Bay, Shakespear Park and Wenderholm.
ARC parks chairman Sandra Coney said it was time to update the bylaw to enable staff in the 25 parks to better manage behaviour that was not envisaged 40 years ago when there were fewer cars and it was harder for young people to get alcohol.
A draft bylaw has been shown to local councils which control areas neighbouring ARC parks and government agencies including the Department of Conservation and the police.
Public comment is being invited on the bylaw.
"There is nothing dramatically different about it," Ms Coney said. "It's taking into account changes as some of the problems have been exacerbated.
"People love the parks, but some get upset about conflicting and irritating social elements.
"It's giving our ranger staff some updated tools to deal with that behaviour. We will still rely on education and persuasion - our staff are great at diplomacy - but if worse comes to worse they have a bit of clout with the bylaw behind them."
The report to the council said clear and simple rules for park users were needed.
A set of enforceable rules and remedies was needed to manage situations which interfered with the enjoyment, wellbeing and safety of users.
The bylaw will deal with fires, dangerous weapons, litter, pollutants and misuse of vehicles, and make it an offence to damage or interfere with property, plants and heritage sites.
Rangers could take action to stop illegal activity with or without the police.
Local authority officials can issue infringement fines and cases going to court can result in a conviction for an offence carrying a maximum fine of $20,000.
ARC rangers say they will call in the police to deal with serious offences.
Inspector Mark Hall, of Auckland Central Police, said the draft bylaw would not help the police any more than their existing powers, but it would help rangers.
In The Park
* Auckland regional parks have between five and six million visitors a year.
* The bylaw governing them is 40 years old.
* A new bylaw will deal with fires, dangerous weapons, litter, pollutants and misuse of vehicles.
* It will make it an offence to damage or interfere with property, plants and heritage sites.
* Rangers will be able to take action to stop illegal activity with or without the police.
* Fines for offences could be as high as $20,000.
Annoyance factors
* Teenage drinking.
* Loud music and cars.
* Rubbish.
* Vandalism and damage.
