Lincoln University Digital Thesis Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: you will use the copy only for the purposes of research or private study you will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of the thesis and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate you will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from the thesis. Relationships between local people and protected natural areas: A case study of Arthur's Pass and the Waimakariri Basin, New Zealand A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Lincoln University by Robert J. Kappelle Lincoln University 2001 11 Abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of M.P.R. & T.M. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL PEOPLE AND PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF ARTHUR'S PASS AND THE WAIMAKARIRI BASIN, NEW ZEALAND By R. J. Kappelle An understanding of relationships between local populations and nearby protected natural areas is necessitated by recent shifts towards socially inclusive park management. This study uses a qualitative case-study approach to explore the relationships between a local community and public conservation lands in Arthur's Pass and the Waimakariri Basin, New Zealand. Interviews undertaken with local residents, tourism operators, farmers, conservation management staff and bach owners indicate that relationships between the local population and conservation activity around them occur within a complex milieu - a harsh yet rewarding physical environment, a history of conflicting attitudes towards the land, a changing conservation management style and the intricacies of a small, isolated, rural community in the 21 st century. In order to understand the local people-park relationship, three dimensions are proposed: lifestyle, attachment and recreation; tourism; and interactions with Department of Conservation (DOC) staff. The large areas of conservation land in and around Arthur's Pass and the Waimakariri Basin are a central influence on the lives of local people. They attract a population who appreciates the scenic, bio-physical, productive, spiritual and recreational values of the surrounding environment. Most people have made a deliberate choice to live in the area, rather than following work opportunities elsewhere. Historical attachment to the land is significant, particularly for farmers and bach owners. Low-key forms of tourism in the area, based on the conservation lands, are consistent with the lifestyle aspirations of many in the local community. Conflict between locals and tourists is minimal. III The relationship between DOC and the community appears to hinge on four factors: residents' attachment to the conservation land; public ownership of the conservation lands; the high visibility of conservation staff in the community; and the shift towards corporate style conservation management. Farmers' relationships with DOC are coloured by historical grievances centring on private-public sector debates and the perception that public land managers are predisposed to placing protection on grazing land. Locals attribute poor communication from DOC as one reason for the less than optimal relationship between conservation managers and the community. A model depicting central aspects of the local people-park relationship is presented and discussed. Implications of the findings for future research on local people-park relationships and socially inclusive park management are examined. Keywords: Socially inclusive park management; place attachment; recreational place attachment; benefits of recreation; leisure participation theory; environmental values; protected natural area tourism; destination development; public agency-community relations; park-neighbour relations. iv Acknowledgements Various people and organisations have helped me on my way to the completion of this thesis. First of all, my thanks go to all the people from Arthur's Pass and the Waimakariri Basin who took the time to share with me some of their experiences and perceptions of life amidst the mountains. Thanks also to DOC staff at the Arthur's Pass Area and Canterbury Conservancy Offices, who were most co-operative in providing background information. My supervisors, Kay Booth and Stephen Espiner, were supportive and understanding throughout. I thank them for the regular meetings and discussions we had; for their willingness to read numerous draft chapters; and for making the supervisor-student relationship friendly and fruitful. Numerous staff within the Human Sciences Division at Lincoln University, other divisions in the University, and from overseas have aided me at different stages in my work. My thanks go to David Simmons, Harvey Perkins, Chrys Horn, Andrea Schollmann, Tracy Berno, Kevin Moore, John Fairweather, Bev Driver and John Shultis for giving their time and their thoughts on my study, particularly in the early stages, when I was trying to define my topic. I am also indebted to the Human Sciences Division at Lincoln University, the Hillary Commission, and Macpac and McEwings Mountain Sports for providing financial and material assistance during my research. In particular, the technical support I received from Division technician, Evert Kampert, was invaluable - cheers Evert. To the students in the Division and in the Landscape Annex who I worked alongside, thanks for your support and interest in my work. To my parents, thanks for encouraging me and looking after me at various stages throughout the study. Finally, to Pat, thanks for persevering with me. Your understanding and care have eased the worries and uncertainties that this thesis has given me. v Table of contents Page Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv Table of contents v List of tables , ix List of figures ix List of maps ix List of plates x Chapter 1 . Introduction 1 1.1 Terminology 1 1.2 The rationale for people-park research 1 1.2.1 The national park concept 2 1.2.2 Towards socially inclusive park management.. 2 1.2.3 Institutional changes in park management .4 1.2.4 Benefits-based management. 4 1.3 Aims and /nethods ofthis study 5 1.4 Thesis structure 7 Chapter 2 . Literature review 9 2.1 Situating the current study 9 2.1.1 People-park research in developing countries 9 2.1.2 People-park research in developed countries 10 2.1.3 Studies in the New Zealand context.. 11 2.1.4 Summary of people-park literature 13 2.2 Key aspects ofpeople-park relationships 13 2.2.1 Intrinsic values 15 2.2.2 Outdoor recreation - motivations and benefits , 17 2.2.3 Social effects of protected natural area tourism 20 2.2.4 Relationships between management and locals 23 VI 2.2.5 Traditional land use 26 2.2.6 Local participation 26 2.2.7 Interim summary 27 2.3 Additional concepts important to this study 28 2.3.1 Place and place attachment 28 2.3.2 Life-path frameworks 30 2.4 Chaptersummary 31 Chapter 3 - Methodology 33 3.1 The researcher's background 33 3.2 The qualitative approach 34 3.2.1 Qualitative inquiry of local people-park relationships 34 3.3 The case study approach 35 3.3.1 Site selection 36 3.4 Semi-structured and in-depth interviews 37 3.5 Data collection and analysis 38 3.5.1 Participant selection 38 3.5.2 Data collection 40 3.5.3 Data management. 42 3.6 Ethical considerations 43 3.7 Methods summary 43 Chapter 4 - Study setting 45 4.1 1ntroduction 45 4. 2 Location 45 4.3 Natural environment 49 4.3.1 Geology and landscape 49 4.3.2 Climate 50 4.3.3 Flora and fauna 50 4.4 The Maori presence 51 4.4.1 Spiritual and historical links to the land 52 4.4.2 CUlTent Maori involvement 53 4.5 Pastoralism -foundation for the Waimakariri Basin community 53 4.5.1 History of pastoralism in the Waimakariri Basin 53 4.5.2 Pastoralism and the Waimakariri Basin community today 55 VB 4.6 Trans-alpine links - the genesis ofArthur's Pass village 58 4.6.1 The Arthur's Pass road 58 4.6.2 The Midland Railway 59 4.6.3 Arthur's Pass village - past and present 60 4. 7 Conservation 63 4.7.1 Evolution of Arthur's Pass National Park 63 4.7.2 Early days at the National Park 64 4.7.3 Conservation today - the arrival of DOC 65 4.7 A A changing conservation management style 68 4.8 Chapter summary and conclusions 71 Chapter 5 - Lifestyles, recreation and place attachment 73 5.1 Introduction 73 5.2 Why live in Arthur's Pass? 74 5.2.1 A life-path of Arthur's Pass village residents 75 5.3 Recreation and lifestyle 79 5.3.1 Types of recreation undertaken 80 5.3.2 Recreational attachment, benefits and motivations 80 5.3.3 Family recreation and child development 86 5.304 Work versus recreation 88 5.4 Values and place attachment 90 504.1 Meanings and values assigned to the local environment... 90 504.2 Farmers' connection to the land 95 5.5 Lifestyles and local conditions 97 5.5.1 Road and rail 97 5.5.2 Perceptions of isolation 99 5.5.3 Weather, topography and fault-lines 102 5.6 Chapter summary 103 Chapter 6 - Tourism and conservation lands 105 6.1 Introduction 105 6.2 Overview oftourism in the study area , 105 6.2.1 Arthur's Pass village tourism 106 6.2.2 Waimakariri Basin tourism 108 6.3 The role ofconservation lands in local tourism 109 6.4 Local views oftourism 112 6.5 Chapter summary and discussion : 115 viii Chapter 7· The local community and DOC 117 7.