Possible delays, 'Love this place' campaign, new fees, news from the regions and more... 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. Working with operators affected by floodingDOC staff are making good progress assessing the tracks and structures in Fiordland impacted by the recent floods. We’re working with concessionaires on ways we can promote other parts of Fiordland and Mt Aspiring; as well as looking at where tracks may be able to be partially opened. We’re also sending regular updates to all concessionaires about the progress of our assessments and repair work. If you are not receiving our updates and would like to let us know. Visit the DOC website for the latest information on closures and projected opening dates. Howden Hut workshop. Photo: DOC The inside of Howden Hut. Photo: DOC An update on processing delaysIn December we advised that unprecedented numbers of concession and permit applications means they are taking longer than usual to process. Unfortunately, this is still the case as we continue recruiting and bring our new recruits up to speed. The weather event in Southland and Fiordland is also contributing, with the team having to reprioritise some work to ensure business continuity for those concessionaires most affected. Your ongoing patience is appreciated as we work through applications as fast as we can. Help visitors to ‘Love this place’As we continue to see high numbers of visitors on conservation land and waters, it is important to ensure they are behaving safely and responsibly in nature. DOC’s ‘Love this Place’ campaign focuses on five key behaviours: safety, wildlife interaction, litter, toileting, and drone use. As operators on public conservation land it would be great if you could support this messaging through your business. We have free posters and collateral available to order (see items starting with ‘Summer Campaign’), as well as sharable digital content. If you use booking confirmation emails, please consider including some ‘love this place’ messaging or a campaign banner. This is a great way to remind visitors how they can keep themselves and the environment safe. Thanks for your support! New aircraft activity feesLast year we engaged with aircraft concessionaires to seek their views on our proposed new aircraft landing fees. The review was completed and late last year we advised aircraft concessionaires that new fees would take effect from 1 July, 2020. The change in fees will occur at the following rental review date or when the aircraft concession comes up for renewal, whichever occurs sooner. Aircraft fees for the 2021 season is also available on our website. We are still finalising the guiding activity fees and we will advise affected businesses directly when the new fees are confirmed. Business makes decision to protect lizardsDOC welcomed Cardrona Alpine Resort Limited’s decision late last year to halt chairlift construction as it would disturb an extremely significant site for New Zealand’s native lizards. We’re happy we were able to work with Cardrona to protect this rare population of lizards. We’ll continue to work together to determine how they can change their existing chairlift plans to ensure the area’s biodiversity is well protected. A jewelled gecko. Photo: DOC Connecting people to Aotearoa’s heritageBalancing tourism pressures while, first and foremost, protecting the natural and historic heritage that attracts these visitors, is a key focus for DOC. Our Heritage and Visitors Team are dedicated to enriching New Zealand through sustainable tourism growth. Booking huts and campgrounds onlineThe new booking system for DOC huts and campgrounds is going live in Autumn this year, accepting booking dates from 1 July onwards. The existing booking system will only accept bookings for dates up to and including 30 June. Awatere Hut. Photo: Nina Mercer, DOC We will send you more detailed information about the application process soon. New faces in our leadership teamIntroducing Natasha Hayward and Daniel Heinrich, two new Directors you may like to know about. Natasha is seconded to the Planning, Permissions and Land unit for the next six months and is responsible for business activities undertaken on public conservation land. She replaces Marie Long who has moved into the Director Operations Strategic Support role. Natasha has been with DOC for five years and has previously held roles as the Operations Manager – Maniapoto District, Partnerships Manager and Permissions Manager. She lives in Hamilton and enjoys running and mountain biking. If you have an issue of nationwide significance you’d like to discuss contact her on nhayward@doc.govt.nz Daniel is the new Director for the Hauraki Waikato Taranaki region. He has come to DOC from Fonterra and is really excited about his new role. Daniel’s interests include surfing and waka ama. Operations Managers in each region report directly to the Director who is ultimately responsible for the region. Acting Planning, Permissions and Land Director, Natasha Hayward New Director for the Hauraki Waikato Taranaki region, Daniel Heinrich Drones vs birdsFlying drones in the vicinity of birds can be highly disturbing for them. A nesting colony of white-fronted terns were recently subject to a drone coming dangerously close in Murawai. All drone users must have authorisation from DOC to operate a drone on public conservation land. You can direct members of the public to our website for more information, including areas we recommend they can apply to fly their drone . Photo: Simon Runting | © Review of ‘percentage of revenue’ activity feesFor many concessions DOC applies a fee structure that determines the activity fee as a percentage of the revenue earned through the concession. We are going to review the way we set these fees and assess if there are better methods. As part of this review we will be seeking feedback from those concessionaires who have their fee calculated in this way. We expect the review process to begin in April and to take 12 to 15 months. Any new fee setting structure would not be in place before the 2021/22; and would not take effect until the following rental review date or when your concession comes up for reissue. Protecting our great kauri this summerThe summer months are the busiest time of year for visitors to kauri forests. Watch our new animation video about kauri dieback and what you and members of public in your care can do to help. 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 |