National Park Filming Ban is Ludicrous

Monday 11 Nov 2002 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Environment & Conservation

New Zealand is at risk of becoming the laughing stock of the world with a proposed ban on filming non-indigenous species in a national park, ACT Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today.

"As part of its proposed management plan for Fiordland National Park, the Department of Conservation seeks to stop filming of deer, Wapiti, moose (if proven), ferrets, stoats and, presumably, humans. The policy follows hard on the heels of wanting "inappropriate" filming of commercials in Mount Cook National Park stopped in case the area's `mana' is somehow demeaned. Has DOC gone completely mad?

"Interestingly enough, however, DOC is silent on whether filming of taniwha (mythical monsters) is allowable in a national park. I can only surmise that, because taniwha are indigenous, filming is acceptable.

"Why filming of introduced species is banned defies belief. While DOC seems to want to deny the existence of deer in national parks, its silence over the existence of taniwha would indicate it believes in swamp-dwelling monsters and wants to confirm their existence before banning the filming of them as well. Perhaps DOC should develop a policy and management plan for fairies, gnomes, monsters and evil spirits.

"With Christmas on its way, DOC should speedily inform Father Christmas of no-fly zones over wilderness areas. Should Prancer or Dancer go lame, Santa Claus will not be able to land on DOC land without the expressed permission of Minister Carter.

"Helen Clark should tell New Zealanders whether this Government believes in the metaphysical or not and instruct her Ministers accordingly," Mr Eckhoff said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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