Help get appropriate conservation protection and free year-round access to the Remarkables

We are asking for your support and signature for: 

1. Guaranteed year-round free vehicle access to the Remarkables Conservation Area and;
   
2. Asking DOC to urgently re-classify this area to give it the environmental protection it deserves.

NZ Ski dismays the local and outdoor community by imposing a toll for access to the publicly-owned Remarkables Conservation Area:

• On 3 February 2020 ski field operator NZ Ski is closing free vehicle access to the Remarkables Conservation Area during summer months and imposing a toll. The land is conservation land.
  
• On 5 January 2015 public road access to the Remarkables Conservation Area was blocked by NZ Ski for five months without consulting local users or adhering to their concession obligations.  
  

We believe these decisions are totally unjust and ignore NZ Ski’s social and moral responsibilities to maintain free and full public year-round road access to the Remarkables Conservation Area.

Background on the Remarkables Conservation Area
The Remarkables Conservation Area is one of New Zealand's unique, high alpine areas. It is readily accessible with abundant opportunities for recreation from easy walks to Lake Alta to photography, camping, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, botany, hunting, alpinism, rock climbing and ski touring.

The early 1980s granting of a ski field concession drew substantial opposition and as acknowledgement to the objectors the then Planning Tribunal concluded: ‘The Remarkables has national significance, particularly from the point of view of its physical attributes as a place of outstanding scenic beauty and as a place of importance for those wishing to use it for pursuits of the unstructured kind, particularly tramping and climbing’ http://www.recreationaccess.org.nz/files/rec_plan2_03_remarkables.pdf.

NZ Ski is now the major concession holder for this area. The main focus of the concession is operation of a winter ski field.  It contains an obligation to protect the unique and fragile alpine environment.  In addition, the access road has easement conditions requiring provision of year-round access for recreational users.

NZ Ski Response to the Road Toll
NZ Ski says it wants to recoup its costs maintaining the road and legally it has a right to do this; however, it should be noted it was the company's own financial decision to upgrade the road.

In addition, most damage to the road is caused during the high-intensity ski season, not in summer, when usage and damage are lighter.

‘Federated Mountain Clubs President Jan Finlayson is urging NZ Ski to hit pause on its plan to charge for vehicle access on the Remarkables Ski Field Access Road this summer.

Nearly all the land underlying the road is publicly-owned conservation land. For locals, it is a place of recreation and respite. FMC supports the right of the public who wish to freely access this part of their backyard as often as they wish.

“Introducing a fee for use of the road effectively puts a public good into private hands,” said Finlayson. “As a precedent the proposal is alarming,  and we would strongly encourage NZ Ski to show leadership in the outdoor community by committing to the public’s right to freedom of access.”

Proper Protection for The  Remarkables Conservation Area
DOC’s progress reviewing the Remarkables Conservation Area’s land status is too slow. The area presently has stewardship, or ‘holding pen’ classification, and has done for over 30 years. This status gives limited protection. In 2017, with the support of Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark and Forest and Bird, FMC proposed that, along with other adjacent land, the area be considered for reclassification as the Remarkables National Park. We believe DOC needs to urgently address this.

Manaaki whenua, Manaaki tangata, Haere whakamua (Care for the land, care for the people, go forward).

Queenstown Climbing Club and Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand

Queenstown Climbing Club is active in promoting climbing in the Wakatipu for all ages and helping protect our environment for future generations of climbers.

Federated Mountain Clubs celebrates outdoor recreation, cherishes our backcountry and acts to protect both for future generations. Our 22,000 members, from all corners of New Zealand, explore our wild places.