Office closure dates, permit advice for summer, processing delays, regional news, and other stuff... No Images? Click here Our relationship with you and the business you operate on public conservation land is important to us. This newsletter is designed to help you run your business and contains practical information relevant to your permit or concession. If you have any feedback on how we can improve Business on the Green, please let us know. Kids encourage visitors to protect Aotearoa this summerConservation Minister Eugenie Sage and Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis launched Tiaki – Care for New Zealand for a second summer on November 25. The campaign features Kiwi kids asking that visitors keep New Zealand clean, protect nature, drive carefully, be prepared, and show respect. If you haven’t already, show your support by following Tiaki this summer and sharing its principles with others – www.tiakinewzealand.com Minister Sage talks Tiaki with one of the stars of the campaign, Zeb Gee. Image - Bon Scott. Check your permit before summerThis summer our Rangers will be out and about again checking permits – helping to ensure there is a level playing field for businesses. Last year there were a number of really good operators who didn’t realise what they were doing didn’t quite meet the conditions of their permit. We recommend re-reading your agreement with DOC before summer to make sure your activity still fits within what you are authorised to do. Our Rangers want to focus on those deliberately flouting the law, not those making honest mistakes. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything at all contact your local DOC office. Making conservation easier for businessesThere is a growing appetite by businesses to go above and beyond to help restore New Zealand’s biodiversity and landscapes. We are currently working with Tourism Industry Aotearoa on a 12-month project to better understand how we can make conservation opportunities easy for businesses to see and do. A number of Christchurch businesses are participating in the project. What we learn will then be shared nationally so we can better support businesses wanting to get involved in conservation. Thanks to the many businesses who have already made valuable contributions to conservation. Your ongoing support is hugely appreciated and is making a real difference. Local businesses gather at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch to celebrate Conservation Week. Image: Nancy Zhou Application processing over the holiday periodProcessing of applications for permits and concessions will stop on 20 December and resume from 11 January. If you need to contact us about your existing permit or concession, DOC offices will reopen from 6 January. High demand causing processing delaysWe are currently experiencing processing delays due to the receipt of unprecedented numbers of concession and permit applications. Your patience is appreciated as we work through these applications as fast as we can. We are currently recruiting additional permanent staff to help address this issue. If you know of anyone who may be interested tell them to keep an eye on the vacancies page on our website. DOC promotes a flexible workplace so positions may be based at various locations across the country. Booking DOC facilities onlineAdditional DOC facilities can now be booked online, including 10 high-demand campgrounds and 5 huts. See our media release for more information. Work is underway to transition all remaining bookable facilities to the new online booking platform before summer 2020/21. Woolshed hut in winter. Image: DOC Guiding and aircraft feesWe are currently finalising new activity fees for guiding and aircraft – ensuring the feedback from those who filled in the survey(s) is taken into account. If you have one of these concessions you should expect a change in fees at your next rental review date or when your concession comes up for renewal, whichever occurs sooner. We will update our website and advise you directly when the new fees take effect. Acting Director Eastern South IslandNicola Toki will be the acting Operations Director (Eastern South Island) until the end of April 2020, while Andy Roberts leads some key DOC projects. Nicola has most recently been DOC’s Threatened Species Ambassador so you may have met her in her travels. She has a very strong background in conservation management, has lived and worked across the region, and is a self-confessed ‘nature nerd’. Operations Managers in each region report directly to the Director who is ultimately responsible for the region. If you are in the Eastern South Island and have an important issue to discuss contact her on ntoki@doc.govt.nz Nicola Toki with one of her native friends Supreme Court decision – Wildlife ActWe previously advised that there were some activities DOC could no longer authorise following a 2018 court of appeal decision. In particular if it involves ‘disturbing’ wildlife. The Supreme Court decision has now provided additional interpretation of specific words in the Wildlife Act. Our webpage provides more information. We are now working through a back log of Wildlife Act applications as quickly as we can. Promoting safe adventures – online resourcesCheck out the new and improved Support Adventure website. It has recently been updated to include the latest thinking on risk management, good practice, and learnings since the Adventure Activity Regulations were introduced. If you have any questions or suggestions use the ‘contact us’ form on the website. White water rafting on Kaituna River. Image: Ronald Woan Improving our application formsWe are currently updating our forms to make them easier to use and ensure we get all the information we need to assess your application. Please download the forms from our website each time you apply for a permit to ensure you are using the correct application form. Paparoa Track provides opportunities for businessesThe official opening for the Paparoa Track, New Zealand’s newest great walk, was held in Blackball on 30 November. Six shuttle companies have been set up to service the track as well as new accommodation established in Blackball and Punakaiki; including multiple houses purchased as Airbnb properties. The track is now open, but a slip means the middle section of the track will be closed until repairs can be made. The aim is to have the track fully open by 22 December. See our media release for more information. Pike River families unveiling the new track sign. Photo: Dawn Muir Regional news roundupCheck out what’s been happening across the country over the past few months:
Is there something you would like to see in this newsletter? Email us at businessonthegreen@doc.govt.nz |