Foreign tourists will face a $20 to $40 charge when they visit some of the country’s most popular Department of Conservation sites and walking tracks. 

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the new charge at the National Party conference in Christchurch this afternoon. 

The fee would apply initially to Cathedral Cove/Te Whanganui-a-Hei, the Tongariro Crossing, the Milford Track, and Aoraki Mt Cook, where foreigners often make up 80 per cent of all visitors, according to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. 

“Tourists make a massive contribution to our economy, and no one wants that to change. But I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free. 

“It’s only fair that at these special locations, foreign visitors make an additional contribution of between $20 and $40 per person.” 

Potaka said it would result in up to $62 million per year in revenue, which would be “directly reinvested” into DoC sites. 

New Zealanders would not face the charge. 

Also announced was reform to the Conservation Act to address what Luxon described as a “totally broken” concessions regime. 

“Outdated rules mean we’ve got examples of modern E-bike users being turned away from potential touring opportunities because they have to be considered as proper vehicles,” he said. 

“And tourism on the Routeburn is being held up because the trail crosses artificial boundaries, with different rules and different limits.” 

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.