West risks being 'loved to death'

Xanthe White's Chelsea Flower Show entry showcased the spectacular west coast of Auckland.

The Waitakere Ranges risk being loved to death if tourists flock there on the back of New Zealand's Chelsea Flower Show success, says a leading figure at the Auckland Regional Council.

While it was great the spectacular west coast was showcased in Xanthe White's award-winning garden at the world-renowned show this month, thousands more sightseers a year would cause environmental problems, said ARC parks committee chairwoman Sandra Coney.

"I do congratulate Tourism New Zealand on the success of the exhibit but we are not geared up to cope with a big influx of international tourists," she said.

There were already 100 tourist operators within the ranges, which attracted 2.5 million visitors annually, using 200km of walking tracks.

Ratepayers picked up the $3 million annual bill for maintenance and protection of Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and Aucklanders' access and enjoyment of them was a priority.

Tourism NZ had let ARC staff know it planned to take a west Auckland-themed bush and beaches garden to the show but it would have been a "courtesy" to have involved the council more closely, she said.

"It's a bit like promoting a heritage home without asking the owner first."

The council had set aside money this year to come up with a strategy to stop high-profile spots such as Lion Rock and the Cascades being overrun.

"We've got a steady stream of people going up Lion Rock now, how many more can go up there before it's not a pleasant experience but an ant trail as it is at Ayers Rock?" she said.

Tourism NZ has trumpeted the success of the exhibit, saying it would help sell New Zealand as a destination and "entice more UK visitors to come to New Zealand and see the real thing".

A BBC broadcast during the show, featuring Auckland's west coast, had an estimated audience of 3.5 million and Chelsea attracts wide media coverage around the world.

Ms Coney said the council regularly received complaints from visitors that wilderness areas were being spoiled.

A Tourism NZ spokesman said the exhibit was about raising awareness of the country, not a particular region.

Visitors would spread out from Auckland and go to other regions as well.

* The views expressed by Ms Coney were in her capacity as chairwoman of the ARC's parks committee and do not necessarily relfect the views of all members of the ARC.