National Parks Act 1980

National parks - Establishment, exclusion of land from, and definition of parks

15: Amenities areas

You could also call this:

"Special areas in national parks for facilities and services"

The Minister can set aside an area in a national park for special use. This area is called an amenities area. The Minister can do this if the Authority recommends it and it fits with the park's management plan. The Minister announces this decision in the Gazette, which is an official government publication. The Minister can also cancel this decision the same way.

When an area is set aside like this, it can be used to build and run recreational facilities and public services. These facilities and services should be suitable for people to use and enjoy the park. The park's management plan and the law decide what's allowed.

Usually, national parks have strict rules to protect nature. But in these special areas, those rules might not apply fully. Instead, the focus is on making sure people can use and enjoy the facilities, as long as it doesn't go against the basic ideas of what a national park should be.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 13 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM37925.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Conservation

14A: Special provisions relating to wilderness areas under Reserves Act 1977 or Conservation Act 1987, or

"Rules for keeping wilderness areas within national parks"

16: Plans of national parks, or

"The Chief Surveyor keeps updated maps of national parks for you to see"

Part 1National parks
Establishment, exclusion of land from, and definition of parks

15Amenities areas

The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority made in accordance with the management plan, by notice in the Gazette, set apart any area of a park as an amenities area, and may in like manner revoke any such setting apart.
While any such area is set apart, the development and operation of recreational and public amenities and related services appropriate for the public use and enjoyment of the park may be authorised in accordance with this Act and the management plan.
The principles applicable to national parks shall, notwithstanding section 4, apply only so far as they are compatible with the development and operation of such amenities and services.