DoC General Policy discourages canoes and kayaks

Tony Ward-Holmes reports that DoC is reviewing General Policy with potentially adverse consequences for recreational kayaking.

The recommendation in DoC’s proposed new General Policy for National Parks is to actively discourage vehicle use where not provided for in Management Plans. This covers canoes and kayaks, not just helicopters. Very few management plans (if any) explicitly mention canoes and kayaks, so if the General Policy is accepted as it stands, DoC would be bound to discourage kayakers from National Parks (for example, Kahurangi). Similarly, the Conservation General Policy also ‘actively discourages’ vehicle use [refer 9.6 (b)].

Submissions are due by 19 December, and should be sent to General Policy Project, Department of Conservation, PO Box 10-420, Wellington or by email to [email protected]. Note the separate submission forms for National Parks General Policy and Conservation General Policy .