Application for reconstruction and lease of Taranaki/Egmont National Park Visitor Centre

Introduction

Have your say on an application by the Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust (TKoTA) to reconstruct and lease the Taranaki/Egmont National Park Visitor Centre. Submissions closed Wednesday, 10 January 2024.

This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application for a land use license for a 30-year term, including associated easement.

Application details

Applicant: Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust (TKoTA)
Application number: 100560-OTH
Location of proposed activity: Taranaki Maunga, Egmont National Park, Taranaki.
Concession type: Lease.
Summary of proposal: TKoTA are seeking to build a whare on Taranaki Maunga that will provide Puketapu hapū and Te Atiawa iwi with an opportunity to connect with their whenua. Iwi will own and operate the building, and DOC will sub-lease an area within it to use as a visitor centre. The building will also accommodate a café, meeting/wananga space and some overnight accommodation. The building will be primarily educational in nature as opposed to commercial, and iwi assets will be available to all to hire and use. DOC is to run a temporary visitor centre facility near the upper carpark site during the build.
Application documents:

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.

Submissions closed at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 10 January 2024.

1. Prepare your submission

Record what you think on the submission form.

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of their submission must request (within that submission) an opportunity to appear before the Director-General.

2. Send us your submission

Send your submission by email or post. 

Email: permissionshamilton@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: 100560-OTH, Submissions re. Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust

Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
Permissions Hamilton
Private Bag 3072,
Hamilton 3240

Attention: Stephanie Bowman, Permissions Regulatory Delivery Manager

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close: 

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
  2. A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this. 
  3. DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
  4. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation. 
  5. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application. 

Hearing details

If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur on the week starting 12 February 2024.

DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications

The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land.  This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.  

Decision

No details at this point.

Contact

If you have a question about the application or the submission process contact us via email.

Email: permissionshamilton@doc.govt.nz