Parks or playgrounds? An analysis of the concept of Tongariro National Park

National parks are cultural constructions embodying and reflecting the values of society. To date research on parks in New Zealand has focused upon surveys of users and analyses of historical data. Noble (1987) identified the need for a study of national parks along the lines of the Darling and Eichhorn's (1969) study of the US national park system, in which the authors asked the provocative question "What is a national park?". Following their lead I examine the purpose of national parks using indepth interviews with the administering authorities and selected commercial users of Tongariro National Park. I argue that the perceptions of the majority of the commercial concessionaires and users regarding the purpose of Tongariro National Park are incompatible with specified fundamental objectives of national parks. Secondly, I argue that national park administrators are not neutral agents regulating use under the National Parks Act (1980). While there is no evidence, or suggestion, of management practices which breach the National Parks Act (1980) or the Tongariro National Park Management Plans Vols I, II, Ill, the system within which the administrators operate has accepted central government "market efficiency" ideologies and policies. Administrators are increasingly dependent upon concessionaires for the day-to-day operating costs of the park. This relationship and fundamental conflicts in perceptions of use threaten traditional objectives and the future of national parks