Leisure use of the Tararua Forest Park

Abstract

This research was commissioned by the National Mountain Safety Council of New Zealand for the purpose of determining characteristics of persons using mountains for recreation. One hundred and sixty-six individuals were interviewed in four areas of the Tararua Forest Park selected for differential usage rates and geographical dispersion. Interviews were conducted over the Easter (autumn) and Queen's Birthday (winter) long weekends in 1976. Two basic hypotheses were tested; firstly, that socio-economic status was a determinant of mountain recreation, and secondly that elements of early socialisation in respect of leisure activities determined future leisure behaviour. It was found that early socialisation was a better indicator of present leisure behaviour than was socio-economic status. The study implies that safe leisure practices can best be inculcated in childhood and early adolescence, and that the Mountain Safety Council's publicity could best be directed at parents of park users and at Primary and Intermediate Schools.