Tama Potaka: Conservation Minister on the Government's proposal to charge higher visitor fees for national parks and conservation areas

The Government's considering charging more for visits to national parks and conservation areas. 

The Department of Conservation has released two documents for public consultation on modernising conservation. 

It's seeking feedback on questions like who should pay visitor fees, including both domestic and international tourists. 

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka told Mike Hosking he understands there will be some concerns. 

He says there are some people who believe it's their right to go to these places for free. 

Consultations closes in February. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So we have an overhaul of conservation law. The government
is looking to update the current Act, which has hardly
been touched in thirty seven years. Public feedback wanted on
proposals which include charging for access to dockland and reducing
red tape for tourism. The Conservation Minister is Toma Potucker,
who's with us. Good morning, chadlem Mike, very well. Indeed,
as regards conservation, what are you looking to do legislatively here?
Is this a tidy up or an overhaul?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
This is really reform. First thing is we want to
change the planning and concession system, just make it easier
for people to do business and run their conservation sort
of aspirations on the estate. The second thing is we're
looking at charging some people to go to some places
around their state so we can have a bit more
pootier to get the jobs done.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
I was going to say, how much of it's about
just basic revenue generation you need more dough.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, some of it is, but a lot of it
is making it easier and simpler for people to do
things on their state. It's a lot of tape out
there and we need to get rid of some of them.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
Why has it been so long, so many decades before
somebody has looked at this.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, I think very few ministers and previous governments have
really had an appetite to do it. And as you know,
we want to get the country back on track. And
that's why I put my hand up to the promise
and said, okay, let's go.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
And what's the timeline on this.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
I look at the feedback by the end of February,
so a couple of months, and then we'll start forming
the policy a bit more firm and introduced central legislation.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Are you expecting angst?

Speaker 2 (01:28):
I think there will be a lot of concerns, especially
when we talk about access charging and asking people to
pay to go to certain places. But those international bills, well,
some people believe it's there and hand it right to
go to places for free. I think on the other side,
there's a lot of facilities.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
And exactly, I mean I should be I should.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Be tracked in state highway.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Mate, yeah, exactly, But but I mean how can I
how can people count see that if you've dug a
track or put a bridge across the river, someone's got
to pay for that.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
And if you go the seas is even like Australia,
the years rock and costsko Bans in Canada, Yellowstone in America.
You paid to go to those places. So we're talking
about getting out there, getting people's views and then we'll
see how we go.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Okay, a couple of things while I've got to you,
do you realize the Department of Conservation is one of
the slowest payers and if so, why and what are
you doing about it?

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yes? I do. There are some practices and the Department
Conservation need to be improved. The Director General has been
given a message from me. We need to start moving
on us and make sure we're paying the time and manner.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
And there's no excuse for it, is there? Is it
lack of resource? Do they not care? I mean, you
know paying a bill is not hard if you want to,
is it?

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah? Absolutely? I think some agencies are better payers than others,
and sermainly are off to be up there with the best.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
Right. And then yesterday, how'd you feel about it?

Speaker 2 (02:46):
I think Sarah consisted there's a lot of tension. I've
provided my views in response to the questions, but I
think we need to get the country moving back on
track and need to get to equality of opportunity. That's
my quest in the house, and that's what I want
to do and focus on that rather than a few
other diversions.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Was there any excuse for what unfolded?

Speaker 2 (03:10):
I think the Speaker and only that took to speak
as responsibility. He's observed that there's a lot of disordery,
conduct and behavior in the house yesterday, and I expect
that he'll be pretty feminist and is carrying through his observations.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
Appreciate time Conservation Minister time A Potucker.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
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