New initiative to boost visitors to the regions

The 93,000-member New Zealand Motor Caravan Association has joined forces with KiwiRail, the Department of Conservation and the Kea Conservation Trust in an innovative project to help save the country’s seriously endangered kea population – and boost visitor numbers in the regions.
The initiative involves KiwiRail leasing unused land to the NZMCA to develop as member parking sites; with the net revenue being directed to the Kea Conservation Trust.
As a result, the Trust – which was set up in 2006 – will benefit by a guaranteed minimum of $225,000 over the nine year period of the initial agreement.
KiwiRail executive general manager tourism Ahleen Rayner says the agreement is an important contribution to Tourism New Zealand’s strategy of growing the regions by $1b by 2023.
“We see ourselves as a champion for the regions. So, we’re excited to be working closely with our partners at NZMCA and DOC to boost visitor numbers to the regions.”
Group general manager property Stephanie Campbell says this is a great way to support the environment and grow our communities through tourism. “We are developing more flexible and innovative ways to collaborate with our partners to support the regions, our environment and better utilise our land.”
Stephanie says sustainability in all forms is central to KiwiRail’s purpose of creating stronger connections for a better New Zealand.
“Kaitiakitanga is important to us, so we are pleased we can provide land which will enable positive outcomes for the regions, the environment and the protection of our native kea.”
The signing of the agreement between the parties this week will immediately add two more properties to the NZMCA’s nationwide Park portfolio; and plans are underway to add more in the years ahead.
NZMCA CEO Bruce Lochore says the unique agreement is ‘a win/win/win for all the parties involved’.
“Securing more safe and secure parking sites for our members in the places they want to go is a priority for our organisation,” he says. “However, with this project we saw an opportunity to work with our partners, KiwiRail and DOC, for the greater good by foregoing the net revenue we’d normally earn and directing it – on behalf of KiwiRail and ourselves – to the work of the Kea Conservation Trust.
“Concern for the natural environment is one of our Association’s core values and we’re excited to be able to show that in such a tangible way.”
Bruce says he wanted to pay tribute to KiwiRail for their willingness to think outside the square in bringing the idea to fruition for the benefit of DOC and the Kea Conservation Trust.
“We have been working on this agreement for over 12 months and I think all the parties are very happy with the outcome.”
Delighted with the initiative, Kea Conservation Trust chair Tamsin Orr-Walker says: “This exciting collaboration with NZMCA and KiwiRail shows a substantial commitment to the future of kea and is the longest term NGO funding partnership for the species in New Zealand to date.
“We look forward to working with our new partners to ensure a sustainable future for kea in our Southern Alps.”
DOC’s director general Lou Sanson says he was ‘thrilled to see NZMCA and KiwiRail collaborating to support the work of the Kea Conservation Trust’.
“This is a great example of businesses and community finding new ways to support our endangered species; we are seeing more and more businesses putting restoration at the heart of sustainability and achieving a win for both their business and the environment – it’s exciting.”
Kea Conservation Trust co-founder and chair, Tamsin Orr-Walker is ‘extremely excited’ about the new partnership with NZMCA and KiwiRail which will see long term support for kea conservation initiatives.
“Kea are a long-lived species which face multiple threats and challenges across their 3.5 million hectare range,” she says. “Such challenges may only be surmounted by committing significant resources and focus to multi-year projects which lead to practical conservation outcomes.”
As famous for its cheeky behaviour as its unique status as the world’s only mountain parrot, the beautiful kea is one of this country’s natural icons.
However, with a population of only a few thousand birds its very existence is endangered.
Named by Maori for the sound of its call, the kea are sociable and highly intelligent birds which are well adapted to their harsh environment in the Southern Alps.
“Unfortunately, the traits that kea developed for survival, their curiosity and omnivorous appetite, have created conflict with humans over the last 150 years,” says Tamsin.
“Persecution and predation have sorely depleted numbers and, with only a few thousand birds remaining, the kea is a nationally endangered species.”
Established in 2006, the Kea Conservation Trust’s vision is to ‘ensure an enriched and sustainable future for both wild and captive Kea populations for the long-term benefit of all New Zealanders’.