New Zealand was recently named as the very best country in the world, and its cinematic landscapes of mountains, lakes, fjords and beaches play a major role in why it’s such a popular travel destination.
But soon, tourists to four of the country’s most visited natural attractions could be required to pay up to €20 for entry (which is around NZ$40). Why? Well, the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and conservation minister Tama Potaka are planning a new measure to raise funds for conservation projects, and have said that ‘it’s only fair that at these special locations, foreign visitors make an additional contribution,’ according to euronews.
The four spaces to introduce the fees are Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound and Aoraki Mount Cook. The charge won’t be applied until 2027, and New Zealanders will still be able to enter and enjoy the spaces for free. Once the entry fees have been introduced, they could raise around €32 million in revenue.
It’s reportedly part of a wider economic project to boost employment opportunities and increase wages. But there’s also serious reform of conservation laws planned, which will make selling or exchanging conservation land easier, and allow more businesses to operate on that soil without requiring a permit.
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‘Many New Zealanders already run outstanding businesses on the conservation estate – from guided walks and ski fields, to filming documentaries, grazing sheep and cattle, or hosting concerts and building cell phone towers,’ said Prime Minister Luxon. ‘But to do any of that, you need a concession – and the concessions regime is totally broken, often taking years to obtain or renew and leaving businesses in a cycle of bureaucratic limbo.’
Shocker – environmentalists aren’t too happy with this attitude. Co-leader of the Green party Chlöe Swarbrick said that Luxon was prioritising profit over the protection of nature, and Nicola Toki, chief executive of New Zealand’s largest conservation organisation, Forest & Bird, said this reform would enable the commercial exploitation of that land, and ‘represent the most significant weakening of conservation law in a generation.’
It’s contentious to say the least. Keep an eye on this page for all the latest information, including confirmation of an official date for when these entry fees will be introduced.
Oh, and check out the very best things to do in New Zealand.
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