Photo: Department of Conservation
It's mid-way through the summer season, but early indications at the Department of Conservation are that it's been a busy one.
As DOC faces funding shortfalls, it has been floating new money raising ideas such as charging at carparks and is consulting on fees for access to some public conservation land.
The need for money is serious - DOC administers New Zealand's largest recreation network including more than 14,000km of tracks, 326 campsites, approximately 950 backcountry huts and numerous heritage sites across one third of the country.
DOC's Director General, Penny Nelson in the last annual review said the department was spread too thin.
Now as part of the government's growth strategy, the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon has focused on tourism as a priority, along with mining.
Penny Nelson talks to Kathryn about how DOC is coping and if it can support a rise in the number of tourists visiting already our National Parks.
