Tongariro National Park

Increase of the possom population and use of poison (issue resolved)

 

At its last session (June 1998) the Bureau was informed that Mount Ruapehu had erupted in 1995 and 1996 draining the volcano’s crater lake and creating a build-up of ash that blocked the lake’s outlet. When the crater-lake refills, probably within the next few years, and if nature is left to take its course, a rapid collapse of the ash dam could occur followed by a major lahar that could put both human life and some natural values at risk. The Bureau was informed that the Park authorities were in continuous consultation with the Maori people, who gifted the sacred volcanic peaks as a National Park in 1887, in order to find a solution that respects their spiritual, traditional and cultural values. An Environmental Impact Assessment is awaited. The Bureau commended the State Party for its recognition of the cultural and natural World Heritage values of Tongariro National Park. The Bureau requested the New Zealand authorities to keep the Centre informed about the outcome of decisions concerning the management of the ash build-up at the crater outlet of Mount Ruapehu.

The New Zealand, authorities in their letter of 11 September 1998, have pointed out that an eruption of the Mt. Ruapehu in 1953 caused one of the country’s major civilian disasters and that there is an inevitability of a lahar from the crater following the present eruption. The Minister for Conservation has called for a comprehensive environmental and cultural assessment identifying the risks and assessing impacts of options for mitigating them. The New Zealand authorities consider the following three as the most practical options at present:
(a) installing an alarm and warning system;
(b) building structures off the mountain to contain the lahar expected when the ashdam fails; and
(c) bulldozing a trench through the ash-dam itself, although the sub-option of hand digging a shallow trench has not yet been entirely dismissed.

The Park management is in regular consultation with the Ngati Rangi and the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribes to exchange information and views and it appears very clear that they do not like the idea of engineering works at the Crater Lake. Ngati Rangi consider that the excavation at the crater “challenges the indigenous integrity and strength of the cultural World Heritage status” of the Park. However, both tribes understand the risks to public safety and infrastructure (e.g. bridges and roads) and the Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa intends to convene a consultation group to work through the issues with Park management. When the draft report on the environmental and cultural assessment is ready to be released both tribes will be consulted. The Department of Conservation is committed to a consultation process that will support an exemplary code of ethical conduct and field conservation practice that emphasise social responsibility and cultural sensitivity. The Director of the Centre is expected to attend the World Heritage Celebrations due to take place in Tongariro National Park during the week-end of 21-22 November 1998 and will provide an update on the situation in Tongariro at the time of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau.

Decision required: The Bureau may wish to adopt the following text and transmit it to the Committee for noting:
“The Bureau commends the New Zealand authorities for the ethically and culturally sensitive manner in which they are addressing this issue. The Bureau requests the Centre and IUCN to submit a status update on the management of the ash build up at the Crater Lake outlet on Mt. Ruapehu to its twenty-third session in 1999.”

The New Zealand authorities in their letter of 11 September 1998, have pointed out that an eruption of the Mt. Ruapehu in 1953 caused one of the country’s major civilian disasters and that there is an inevitability of a lahar from the crater following the present eruption. The Minister for Conservation has called for a comprehensive environmental and cultural assessment identifying the risks and assessing impacts of options for their mitigation. The New Zealand authorities consider the following three as the most practical options at present:

(a)  installing an alarm and warning system;

(b)  building structures off the mountain to contain the lahar expected when the ash-dam fails; and

(c)  bulldozing a trench through the ash-dam itself, although the sub-option of hand digging a shallow trench has not yet been entirely dismissed.

 The Park management is in regular consultation with the Ngati Rangi and the Ngati Tuwharetoa Tribes to exchange information and views and it appears very clear that they do not like the idea of engineering works at the Crater Lake. Ngati consider that the excavation at the crater “challenges the indigenous integrity and strength of the cultural World Heritage status” of the Park. However, both Tribes understand the risks to public safety and infrastructure (e.g. bridges and roads) and the Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa intends to convene a consultation group to work through the issues with Park management. When the draft report on the environmental and cultural assessment is ready to be released, both Tribes will be consulted. The Department of Conservation is committed to a consultation process that will support an exemplary code of ethical conduct and field conservation practice that emphasise social responsibility and cultural sensitivity. The Director of the Centre, who attended the World Heritage celebrations in Tongariro National Park during the weekend of 21-22 November 1998 confirmed this extremely sensitive approach taken by the management in searching for solutions to this issue.

The Bureau commended the New Zealand authorities for the ethically and culturally sensitive manner in which they are addressing this issue. The Bureau requested the Centre and IUCN to submit a status update on the management of the ash build up at the Crater Lake outlet on Mt. Ruapehu to its twenty-third session in 1999.