Summer Visitors to Matiu-Somes Island: Characteristics, Motivations, Actions, Opinions, Impacts

Abstract

Since the closure of the quarantine facility on Matiu-Somes Island on 1 July 1995, the Government decided that the Department of Conservation "should manage the island for its conservation and public access values" (Department of Conservation 1996b, p 2). This study aims to provide baseline visitor information to assist with the management and provision of recreation and conservation education opportunities on Matiu-Somes Island. The study used two methods. The first method was an on-site self-administrating questionnaire and the second was an observational study. Visitors to Matiu-Somes using the Trust Bank (now Westpac Trust) Ferry service were surveyed over the summer months from 2 January 1996 - 6 April 1996, on each Saturday and Sunday. The questionnaire was a mixture of closed and open-ended questions. 532 completed questionnaires were received, with a response rate 87%. The questionnaire results show that the types of visitors and the characteristics of visits to Matiu-Somes Island are representative of an urban fringe setting which provides less active outdoor pursuits. As such, they are also representative of the general population of Wellington- These visit and visitor characteristics have a significant effect on the nature and outcome of visits. The predominant reason for visiting Matiu-Somes is "curiosity". The most enjoyable aspects of the visits, and the motivations for returning, relate to the island's unique qualities, such as the setting, the flora, and the restoration programme. While visitors do not visit specifically to see the historic sites, they do have high expectations of these features. However, little on-site interpretation results in a low appreciation of the island's history. Visitors consider the overall lack of information the main detraction to visits. Improvements in this area are their primary concern. The vast majority of visitors to Matiu-Somes Island are positive about their experience; they would recommend the trip to others and would return in the future. However, participation in guided tours and visitors' expectations affects satisfaction. The majority of visitors are in favour of enhancing Matiu-Somes' natural environment, in particular the introduction of native wildlife, and restoring and interpreting the historic/cultural buildings and sites. Visitors are not interested in commercial development of the island. An observational study was carried out to supplement these findings, and act as a check on the questionnaire results. The island was divided into ten equally sized observation sites. Visitors in each area were observed throughout the day and all their actions were recorded. These findings provided a brief insight into the immediate impacts of visitors on Matiu-Somes. Overall, visitors appear to cause only a small number of immediately observable impacts. The most common form is littering. Other forms of detrimental visitor activities which occur with some regularity are the disturbance of gulls during their breeding season and visitors leaving the walking track to gain access to the island's beaches.