92 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW ZEALANO ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY, VOL 17, 1970

THE PATTERN OF LAND USE IN THE UNOCCUPIED MOUNTAIN LANDS OF WESTLAND NATIONAL PARK

G. RENNISON Westland National Park

For the purposes of this paper, a definition of great upsurge in the number of applica- "mountain land" is necessary. ft may be taken tions for prospecting in National Parks. to be all that land in Westland National Park However, as far as I know, no mining which lies east of the Alpine Fault (roughly all operations have so far b~en approved. that lies east of the main highway) including the Fox and the Franz Josef Glacier valleys. All is USE OF THE LAND unoccupied as far as permanent settlement is concerned. Pre-European land-use: The Maori population of South Westland was never high, and there is nO Westland National Park was established in evidence that their activities had any effect on 1960, and gathered together large areas of Scenic the mountain areas that we are considering. Reserve and Crown land. These form the nucleus Eurupean land-use: At Greymouth, on 2l May of the area of 210,257 acres comprising the Park 1860, James McKay, acting for the Queen, pur- today. The National Parks Act 1952, requires chased from the Ngai Tahu tribe for £300 the parks to be ". . . preserved as far as possible in 7,500,000 acres lying between Kahurangi Point their natural state,. . . the natural flora and fauna in the north, MiI'.ord in the south and the crest shall as far as possible be preserved and the intro- of the dividing range in the east. This area duced flora and fauna shall as far as possible be included the whole of what is now Westland exterminated. . . their value as soil. water and National Park. Thus, in the early stages of deve- forest conservation areas shaH be maintained." lopment, all the land we are considering was Before looking at land use, let us see what the crown land. 1960 decision means. The creation of Westland National Park has assured the following: What, in effect, had he bought as rar as the I. All forest areas are protected from log- future Westland National Park mountain land gmg.. was concerned? 2. Rivers are protected from pollution by Perpetual snow, glaciers industrial waste and from interference by and bare rock 112,640 acres (64%) hydro-electric works. Alpine vegetation 21,760 acres (10%) Forest 40,600 acres (26%) 3. Lake levels will not be altered by such TOTAL 175.000 acres works. (In the light of the Manapouri struggle, this sta tement must be regarded Situated as this land is, in an isolated part of as suspect.) the South Island, and being composed of 4. Invasion of easiJy-accessible forest areas extremely rugged and inhospitable terrain, it is not by residential development is prevented. surprising to find that little modification of the (The Waitakere Range near Auckland is environment occurred during the early years of a good example of the results of this prac- Crown tenure. Apart from the scenic value of the tice.) mountain country. only two exploitable commodi. 5. Domestic pets, especially cats, are pro- ties appeared present - timber and gold - and hibited. (This is obviously linked with (4) of these, the latter was the one which created the above.) most impact. 6. Mining operations, although possible, are In the latter half of the 19th century the moun- not encouraged and are subject to rigor- tain lands were subjected to the first phase of ous control. The past year has seen a exploitation. as the terraces and riverbeds of the RENNISON: USE OF MOUNTAIN LANDS, WESTLAND NATIONAL PARK 93

Waiho, Callery, Waikukupa, Cook, Balfour and the key to the future progress of the area. At the other rivers were searched and then sluiced for time of writing this paper (J uly 1969) these cate- gold. Some logging, to provide essential timber, gories had not yet been incorporated in the Master accompanied these endea vours, which were gen- Plan and must be regarded as tentative. They are erally shortlived. Dense pole stands of kamahi as follows: (Weinmannia racemosa) and rata ( Metrosideros I, Wilderness Area: Development is re- umbel/ata) on the Waiho and Callery terraces are stricted to essential tracks only. Tempor- a legacy of this early disturbance. ary huts may be approved (e,g, for those At an early stage in the development of West- involved in control of problem animals) land, it was realised that the mountain lands were but no permanent huts are permitted. (a) useless for farming, (b) remote for timber Westland National Park has one such production, (c) scenically second to none; and a area embracing the country at the head glance at the changes in land status which affected of the Callery River. these areas from the early 20th century until the 2. Natural Environment Area: Normal present will show the results of this realisation. tracks and hut services will be developed Areas gazetted Scenic Reserve (acres): but no roads except where approved by Year 1914 1928 1930 1938 since 1938 the National Parks Authority. The major- Acreage 6.148 54,648 ]93,768 206,111 210,257 ity of Westland National Park is in this (cumulative figures) category. It is sometimes thought that this, and other 3. Development Areas: These are available similar acquisitions of large areas of land for for development of various facilities. Such scenic reserve or National Park, was effectively development will be controlled by the getting rid of land that nobody wanted. Whatever Park Board and kept as much in harmony the motives behind these early reserves, we are with the surroundings as possible. Two gaining the full benefit today as the true value of major development areas are the Fox and the land (intangible, rather than economic) Franz Josef valleys. becomes realised. 4. Areas of Unique Scientific Interest: These The early 20th century saw the effective "cold may be selected from any of the above storage" of the mountain lands, development per- three categories. Depending on the parti- sisting only in the valley of the Fox and Franz cular nature of the scientific interest. spe- Josef Glaciers and, to a lesser extent, in the Cop- cial conditions may be imposed on the land Valley. The rest of the area was left alone, area's development (e.g. to ensure mini- apart from some climbing and tramping in the mum disturbance or alteration, entry may more popular locations. Though interference with be restricted, as in the takahe area in the environment by development remained at a Fiordland National Park). low level, a new and large-scale effect began to make itself felt as red deer (Cervus elaphus), tahr In Westland National Park we have the appar- (Hemitragus jemlahicus) and chamois (Rupi- ently anomalous situation where the Fox and capra rupicapra) spread into the area and began Franz Josef valleys are classified both as (3) modifying all the plant communities, Concentra- and (4) above. This has arisen through the tions of animals in favoured vaHeys, such as the glaciers' easy access and subsequent early develop- Douglas, resulted in browsing on such a scale that ment. The evolution of these areas for visitors the original composition of the vegetation was calls for careful planning to ensure that the Deve- completely altered; and, as far as is known, no lopment Area programme does not interfere with part of the Park had escaped modification to some their scientific value. degree. Throughout the Park, a new use had been As detailed investigation of the Park proceeds found for the land - grazing. and the Park's inherent features become better known, re-classification of Natural Environment LAND USE UNDER THE NATIONAL PARK REGIME areas may occur. In planning the development of the Park, certain These are the fields in which the Park will deve- categories of land use have been devised for lop. What is the pattern of human activity that is incorporation within the Master Plan, which is superimposed on them? 94 PROCEEDINGS Of THE NEW ZEALAND ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY, VOL 17, ]970

I. Recreation. This is an intangible but being made up of short bursts of mass killing definite land use - it creates no altera- alternating with long periods of selective hunting tion, leaves no mark (except rubbish). aimed at perpetuating the game. This is some- Just looking at Mount Tasman is "using" thing that we have to live with. One hunter put it in one sense. Recreation, in all its facets, his point of view as follows ~ "We (hunters) are is the primary land use of Westlor.d Nat- the only people who use these valleys. The Park ional Park. was created for all people to enjoy. We enjoy 2. Scientific Use: This is another intangible. hunting, and are using these faraway bits of the Research on the features of the Park is Park ~ nobody else does. Why don't you keep the carried out by a variety of workers, rang- helicopters out of these areas and leave the game ing from primary schoolchildren to trained alone?" One can well understand his point of . scientists. view. 3. Protection: The need for forested upland Now look at the point of view of the Park to control run-off toward agricultural low- the Park from land has long been recognised. It is por- authorities, whose aim is to protect modification and retain as far as possible the haps fortunate that the steeper, higher forested slopes contain rata and kama hi marvellous indigenous plant and animal communi- in abundance, plus many other unmerch- ties that exist there. True, few people visit the Douglas Valley today, but how about in ]975 or antable species. One supposes that no ]985? In ]969 hunters formed less than half of jealous eye will ever be cast on these as a source of wood. one percent of the total number of visitors to the 4. Hunting; In terms of area of ground cov- Park. Since current Nationa] Parks Authority ered, the hunters of deer. chamois and poHcy calls for the extermination as far as pos. tahr use far more of the Park than any- sible of exotic animals, and since the helicopter body else. Many of the more remote val- is such an efficient agent in achieving this the leys, e.g. the Douglas, Regina, Troyte, protests of the private hunter must be weighed against current policy. upper Cook. Balfour and upper Karan- garua are frequented solely by hunting parties. EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE DETERIORATION OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES The problem of the noxious animal and his obligate parasite the hunter is an interesting ont:o There is only one sure way to reduce the num. Hunting pressure is applied in one of two ways: bers of animals grazing in the Park - and that is (a) The mass shooting practised by com- by stepping ~ up the tempo of hunting. In order mercial meat-hunters and some private to get more private hunters into the less accessible ' hunters. areas, two things are needed: (b) The solective "trophy shoot" which I. Access tracks and huts: These, of course, may ignore the majority of animals seen are a necessity for visitors as well; but for in the search for one or two individuals. the present, these facilities would serve to From my dealings with hunters the increase the number of hunting parties latter method appears to be the more fav- entering the areas. oured, especially with the better-equipped, more experienced men, who express dis- 2. Publicitv: Efforts must be made to en- taste for the other method. The aim of the courage hunting in the worst affected average hunter is not the extermination blocks. This is currently being practised of the animals he hunts, rather their good in the Cook River block where morainal health and prosperity until he can get vegetation near the La Perouse Glacier back next year. Bitter criticism of heli. is suffering badly from browsing by copter hunting operations comes from chamois. many private hunters. Helicopter hunting, as currently undertaken, It should. therefore, be realised that the major provides an excellent method of reducing the land use over much of the Park's area is grazing population of the subalpine and alpine zones, and of animals with associated hunting; the latter is recognised as the best control that we have; RENNISON: USE OF MOUNTAIN LANDS, WESTlAND NATIONAL PARK 95

and good liaison between the Park and the meat to thrive. To achieve this, hunting must remain companies must be maintained. The following an essential land use. figures indicate the effectiveness of helicopter operations; As long as the terms of the National Parks Act of J 952 remain essentially unchanged, I foresee Animals Animals shot little change in the basic intended land use pattern shot from by private Year ended helicopter hunters Total in the Park. I can see definite changes in the 31.3.69 909 680 1.589 approach to the noxious animals problem. The pressure is on - the farming of deer is now legal The helicopter total was obtained in a few - venison exports continue to rise faster and . . weeks'shooting. overseas earmngs pour m. It is obviously wishful thinking to imagine the Whatever the changes in the approach towards complete eradication of game animals. In response our mammals, I feel that the present simple land to a dwindling animal population, hunting pres- use of "intangible exploitation" will persist for a sure will slacken as word soon gets around the long time to come. Westland National Park pre- hunting fraternity that an area, previously well sents land use in a state of suspended animation, known for its game, is beginning to produce poor creating with the other Parks of New Zealand a results for proficient hunters. What the animal reserve of five million acres of basically unused response to helicopter hunting will be, and how land, subject to no drastic man-made modification long this method will continue to be profitable, whatsoever (introduced animals excepted). The are matters for conjecture as far as Westland fact that we are not using OUf land in any way Nationat Park is concerned. The best we can hope that will bring about change will be of great for is a lowering of the population to a level at importance in the future. which the natural vegetation is able to maintain itself successfully and hunters will still consider attractive. ACK NOWLEDGMENTS We have lost the original structure of OUf sub- I wish to thank the National Parks Authority for per- alpine and alpine communities in vaHeys such as mission to publish this paper, and Messrs Davies, Sloane and Tercel of Westland National Park Board for advice the Douglas. We must reduce animal pressure and assistance,. Any opinions expressed are my own. and to a level at which a modified community is able do net necessarily reflect Board c.r Authority policy.