Fair allocation process for aircraft landings in Westland Tai Poutini National Park

Background

Aircraft landings on public conservation lands and waters need a concession issued by DOC. In Westland Tai Poutini National Park, DOC grants concessions to operators to enable them to land at high altitude landing sites and position recreationists. The current landing concessions for scenic flights and positioning recreationists expire in June 2025.

DOC wants to consider the future of these concession types within these places in a fair and consistent manner, by way of an allocation process.

Allocation process

DOC, along with Ngāti Māhaki and Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu, will design an allocation process to grant new concessions. To do this, we need to understand the views of current and prospective concessionaires as well as other interested people and organisations. We will do this through a targeted consultation process.

Relevant legislation

DOC is required to consider concessions in accordance with legislation and relevant statutory documents. These include:

• Section 4 of the Conservation Act, to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
• National Parks Act 1980
• General Policy for National Parks 2005
• Part 3B of the Conservation Act
• Westland Tai Poutini National Park Management Plan
• West Coast Conservation Management Strategy.

Timeline

The timeline below is tentative. It shows you how DOC will develop the allocation process and how you will be able to have your say during the process:

• June 2024: section 17ZG(2)(a) notice issued to restrict new applications for landings for scenic flights and positioning recreationists (other than “one offs”) until the new process is developed. (complete)
• April 2025: DOC will release an expression of interest on 14 April 2025. The expression of interest will run for three weeks. It aims to help DOC understand the nature and number of parties that may be interested in undertaking this activity in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. This expression of interest is not part of the formal allocation process that will be run later in the year. Rather, it will help to inform the development of the allocation process.
• June / July 2025: release of a targeted consultation document. The consultation document will outline the proposed allocation process. It will seek feedback from current and prospective concessionaires as well as other interested people and organisations.
• August / September 2025: DOC will analyse feedback on the proposed process, make any necessary changes, and finalise the allocation process to be used.
• October 2025: Formal allocation process begins for concessions.

How to express an interest

DOC seeks to understand the nature and number of parties that may be interested in holding a landing concession for scenic flights and positioning recreationists at high altitude landings sites in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. It is likely that concessions will be awarded for a 10-year term.

This expression of interest is separate to the formal allocation process that will be carried out to allocate concessions later in the year. Rather, information gathered from this expression of interest will inform the design of the allocation process.

To express an interest in holding a concession, fill in the form linked below. We do not require full applications at this stage.

Express an interest in a concession by filling in this form

What happens next

The expression of interest will close at 5 pm on Monday 5 May 2025. 

The results of the expression of interest will inform the design of the allocation process for concessions.

This web page will continue to be updated as this work continues.

Legal information

Official Information Act

The interested party acknowledges and accepts that the Minister and DOC may be required to release information submitted through the expression of interest process in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982.

No contract

This expression of interest and any submissions made do not constitute a contract with the Minister and does not give any rights or cause of action against the Minister.

No obligation

The Minister has no obligation whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any respondent for any expenses or loss that they may incur in the preparation of their expression of interest. There is no guarantee that the expression of interest will result in any subsequent process run, and/or any concession granted.

The Minister is not bound to complete the expression of interest.

Conservation Act 1987

Pursuant to s17R(2)(a) no new applications will be accepted for landings for scenic flights and positioning recreationists (other than “one offs”) can be considered while the s17ZG(2)(a) process that applies to this activity and process is in place.

Fees

There is no fee to submit an expression of interest.

Fees will be charged for processing applications received under the allocation process.  Details of the anticipated processing fee will be included in the information provided for the allocation process in due course.

Concessions granted as a result of the allocation process will be subject to ongoing fees.  These may include an annual management fee, activity fees, and fees to monitor the effects of the activity and compliance with authorised terms and conditions.

Activity fees may be fixed at the market value, having regard to—

(a) any circumstances relating to the nature of the activity; and

(b) the effects of the activity on the purposes of the area affected; and

(c) any contractual conditions, covenants, or other encumbrances placed upon intrinsic resources, natural resources, or historic resources by the concession.

Rent, fees, and royalties for a concession will be reviewed at intervals not exceeding 3 years.

Details of ongoing concession fees will be included in the information provided for the allocation process in due course, but an outline of what you may expect to pay to undertake some activities on conservation land can be found at Concession fees: Managing your concession

Contact

If you have a question regarding this process, email wcostello@doc.govt.nz.