The Department of Conservation (DOC) is being urged to rethink plans for a huge increase in helicopter landings in Fiordland as ice glacier excursions become increasingly popular.
Ngapunatoru Ice Plateau is a remote glacier near Milford Sound and flights to land on the spectacular spot in the Fiordland National Park are proving popular with Chinese tourists.
DOC has approved an increase from ten landings a day up to 80, which has angered mountain users.
"Eighty landings a day - that's up to 160 flights in the air at any one time. You'd probably find more nature next to an Auckland motorway," says Federated Mountain Clubs President Peter Wilson.
DOC says the increase will be trialled for 12 months, admitting it's been under "incredible pressure" from the tourism industry.
"People love these wild places, but tourists love them too. There's a huge increase in the demand for helicopter flights into these places. We've got to find some middleground," says DOC Director-General Lou Sanson.
Federated Mountain Clubs - which represents over 20,000 climbers and trampers - claim they were locked out of original discussions.
"We weren't consulted, the conservation board was barely consulted and Ngai Tahu weren't consulted. I think we need to sit down and sort it out," says Mr Wilson.
DOC says it is open to looking at a compromise around daily flights, and is keen to develop a monitoring programme.
"About the number of helicopters there, about the impact on climbers, about the impact of overflight on other users. We understand their points, and we really want to bring the two sides together," says Mr Sanson.
Finding a middleground will mean ensuring a sustainable future for both the local and overseas tourists in one of our most popular wilderness areas.
Newshub.
