An examination of the issues surrounding the use of national parks for back country multisport events

Abstract

The concept of a national park is both a legal and cultural construct. Since the end of last century, when New Zealand's first national park was proposed, this concept has been changing, reflecting the different cultural and social values put on it. These are examined in the literature review, which then reflects on how they relate to the recent trends to adventure activities, and to their facilitation by the tourism industry. To investigate these the research uses a case study of three back country multisport events: Lifespan Mountains to Sea, Southern Traverse, and Speights Coast to Coast. Opinions are divided on whether such events are appropriate uses of national parks. This research identified a basis for this using in-depth interviews with 'information rich' respondents. It centred on concern over how such events impact on other users, rather than on threats to flora and fauna or any perceived incompatibility between commercial activity and the national park ethos. The conflict arises not so much from a clash in perception of the values attributed to national parks as from a clash in the perception of the values attributed to recreating in national parks.