Conservation Spokesperson

4 September 2015

Cable failure on Great Track walk huge potential risk

Tourism Minister John Key and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry must act urgently and decisively to assure trampers on all Great Walks that every bridge will be checked as soon as possible for safety, says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.

“It is a huge relief the four overseas tourists on the Lake Waikaremoana bridge that failed yesterday landed in water and were uninjured. This is good luck not good management. Our reputation cannot rely on luck.

“The cable failure is not only extremely concerning, it leaves New Zealand vulnerable to harmful tourism reaction. This must be sorted immediately.

“Additional resources must be given to the Department to carry out this work as it is obvious the pressures on them following seven years of budget cuts, are causing greater strain than they can tolerate,” says Ruth Dyson.

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