Increased concession monitoring in Fiordland National Park this summer found 34% of concession holders in breach their concession conditions, and 3.6% did not hold a concession at all.

With more Government funding in tow, Department of Conservation (DOC) authorities have been stepping up their tourism concession monitoring in some of Southland's summer tourism hotspots.

It's part of a larger, co-ordinated effort across the Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage area, which includes Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and Mount Aspiring national parks.

DOC Te Anau operations manager Greg Lind said the progamme began last year in response to commercial concessionaires who had authorisations to operate in parks but had been exceeding allowances. 

This year, funding allowed for a co-ordinated effort among these parks so they weren't individually tackling compliance issues on an ad hoc basis. 

"We now know when somebody ends up in Franz Josef operating illegally, we're now able to track them through the process and pick them up at multiple sites."

Even though 34% of the 1026 activity checks in Fiordland this summer revealed a concession breach, Mr Lind said most of them were easily rectifiable breaches that "crept in over time", such as tour guides incorrectly displaying authorisation certificates in buses or guiding in places outside of their concession. 

Many of them were the same companies that were likely unaware they were breaching their conditions over a number of days until they pursued an authorisation, he said. 

The increased checks weren't so much a revenue seeking exercise, but rather an attempt for people to simply play by the book and not crowd the park. For example, most concessionaires were allowed to visit the increasingly popular Lake Marian site once a day with a maximum of 13 people.

"Our compliance rangers were encountering operators that were... going there three times a day, and exceeding the passenger numbers each time."

Mr Lind said most of the operators tagged for non-compliance have been willing to play ball, seeking authorisation from DOC and, in many instances, getting the tick. To his knowledge, they hadn't needed to prosecute anyone so far. However, recent changes to the Conservation Act meant DOC could now instantly fine a concessionaire for non-compliance.

Mr Lind said DOC would likely begin piloting an instant fine programme next summer, and it was possible Fiordland could be part of the trial. 

DOC staff on Stewart Island have also begun to scratch the surface with its compliance monitoring this summer, but have found a higher rate of compliance within its smaller sample. 

DOC Rakiura operations manager Ren Leppens said this was the first year they had been able to monitor for both tourism concessionaires and researchers by bringing on a part-time ranger for the season.

Staff spoke with 200 concessionaires on the island in advance to tell them they were going to be monitoring this summer; 20 different concessionaires so far had been checked on popular tourism spots like Ulva Island and Masons Bay.

Mr Leppens said only one concessionaire had been found non-compliant for what appeared to be illegal guiding, larger-than-acceptable group size, and a questionable interaction with wildlife. 

"The biggest thing that we've got out of this, thus far, is that the level of compliance is fantastic. We've actually had researchers coming back at us... They knew that we weren't going to be in the same area that they were in, so they were giving us a full run-down on everything that they were up to to ensure that we were aware that they were being totally compliant."

The resourcing also showed both concessionaires and the community at large that DOC did take compliance seriously.

"We're actually following up on everything we've been saying for a number of years as well. The response back that we've got has just been really positive."

Trips and Tramps owner Steve Norris said it was great to see DOC following through on the rules it set. As an operator, it was difficult to do anything about other guides that might not be playing by the rules. 

"The rules are only as good as they are getting enforced, so at least now they are enforcing it, which makes it a level playing field. 

"Hopefully, it's just not a one-season wonder. Hopefully they'll have the funding to go forward and continue doing it."