Advice for new business on public conservation land on Great ...

<strong>Advice</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>new</strong> <strong>business</strong> on public
conservation land on Great Barrier
Island/Aotea
A golden opportunity
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is a
significant provider of tourism and outdoor recreation
opportunities in New Zealand.
By working proactively together, the <strong>business</strong> sector
and DOC can deliver environmental, social and
economic benefits to New Zealanders and help make
New Zealand the greatest living space on Earth.
We want to enable <strong>business</strong> opportunities that are
consistent with conservation, with a particular focus
on increasing the number of people enjoying public
conservation areas.
At a local level, DOC has been working on Great Barrier
Island to improve visitor facilities including major track
upgrades and the building of the <strong>new</strong> Mt Heale Hut.
This work has created the <strong>new</strong>ly named Aotea Track,
which will enable visitors to enjoy a multi-day tramping
experience using the two huts en route. In<strong>for</strong>mation panels
are also planned to tell the stories of the island’s rich history and special
wildlife. These increased opportunities <strong>for</strong> visitors will help to further
entice people to take the short trip from Auckland <strong>for</strong> an adventurous
active holiday or a relaxing unwind to escape city life.
Private enterprise and the local community have an important role
to play in realising the full potential of public conservation land. The
development of <strong>business</strong> initiatives such as ecotourism ventures, guided
walks and organised events is essential to creating a marketable product
and generating local economic benefit.
This in<strong>for</strong>mation sheet aims to answer some questions and provide
some pointers <strong>for</strong> entrepreneurs considering the set-up of a <strong>business</strong>
using public conservation land on Great Barrier Island.
Some ideas <strong>for</strong> tourism based <strong>business</strong>es:
l Guiding e.g. hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing, fishing
l Themed guiding e.g. plants and animals, mining and logging
history, Maori history, photography, or a mixture of everything!
l Pick-ups and drop-offs at track ends
l Sporting events e.g. bike races, multisport events
l Mountain bike hire
l Luxury guided walks – provide transport of packs and gourmet
food
l Accommodation and meals <strong>for</strong> visitors
Concessions
If you choose to run a commercial activity
on public land managed by DOC, you need
to apply <strong>for</strong> a concession. This is an official
authorisation to operate on land managed
by DOC. It may be in the <strong>for</strong>m of a lease,
licence, permit or easement.
A concession gives you:
l A legal right to carry out your proposed
activity on land managed by DOC
l A <strong>for</strong>mal relationship between yourself
and DOC so that both parties are aware
of their obligations
l Security of tenure <strong>for</strong> the term of your
concession provided that you comply
with the conditions of your concession

Frequently asked questions about
concessions
What will it cost?
Application processing fees
Processing fees vary with the level of impact of a
concession. The streamlined Con<strong>for</strong>ming Concessions
process is <strong>for</strong> low impact activities which are deemed to
be ‘con<strong>for</strong>ming’ (e.g. guided walking). Application fees <strong>for</strong>
Con<strong>for</strong>ming Concessions can be as low as $285 + GST and
take only five working days to process. The majority of
tracks on Great Barrier Island are ‘con<strong>for</strong>ming’.
Processing fees <strong>for</strong> activities with a potentially higher
impact vary from $1330 + GST <strong>for</strong> a non-notified
concession, to a higher individually assessed fee <strong>for</strong>
notified concession applications.
On-going fees
Additional fees that may be charged throughout the
term of your concession are an annual management fee,
monitoring fees to cover the cost of monitoring the effects
of your activity and activity fees which are based on the
actual number of clients you have
Health and Safety
Safe operations are a vital part of today’s <strong>business</strong>
environment. Having good safety management systems
<strong>for</strong> your <strong>business</strong> is not just a DOC or legal requirement,
they are also good <strong>for</strong> your <strong>business</strong> and help you to set
and support safe operations as your <strong>business</strong> grows.
All concessionaires must either provide evidence of
Qualmark or Outdoorsmark certification or provide
evidence of an independently audited safety plan, if they
offer recreation or tourism activities. From 1 October 2011,
<strong>for</strong> adventure tourism operators, this will be superceded
by a <strong>new</strong> compulsory registration system managed by the
Department of Labour.
Associated costs
DOC concessionaires are also required to have public
liability, with <strong>for</strong>est and rural fire extension, and third party
vehicle insurance (if applicable). Any insurance company
or broker can advise you on public liability insurance.
Why are concessions necessary?
The concession system helps DOC to ensure that the
various concession activities are compatible with the
primary aim of protecting the land and other resources.
It also helps to make sure that services and facilities
provided <strong>for</strong> visitors are appropriate, of a suitable standard,
and that commercial activities do not conflict with visitor
enjoyment.
What sort of activities need a concession?
Any commercial activity on public conservation land
needs a concession. Some examples of common
concessions include:
l Guiding
l Accommodation facilities
l Land transport services
l Commercial education or instruction activities
l Grazing and other sorts of land use
How do I apply <strong>for</strong> a concession?
Sometimes concession opportunities are publicly offered
(tendered) by DOC. But most concessions are initiated
by an individual or company approaching DOC seeking
permission to run a particular activity.
As part of the process, consultation with local iwi may be
required. DOC staff can tell you whether you need to talk
to iwi yourself and if so, who to contact.
For more in<strong>for</strong>mation about concessions and <strong>for</strong>
application <strong>for</strong>ms, see the DOC website www.doc.govt.
nz, or contact Des Casey, Great Barrier Island Community
Relations Ranger on (09) 429 0238 or email dcasey@doc.
govt.nz.
Employing other people
If you are employing staff you will need to register with
Inland Revenue and make PAYE payments on behalf
of your employees. You should also register with Inland
Revenue <strong>for</strong> GST if you expect your turnover will be
greater than $60,000 <strong>for</strong> the next 12 months. Inland
Revenue have <strong>business</strong> advisors who can help you with all
the details – www.ird.govt.nz.
Other requirements
Depending on your activity, you <strong>business</strong> may require
consent from the Auckland Council. As a first step, you
should speak with a Council officer and they can advise
you of the requirements.
You must comply with legislation and understand
your responsibilities under the Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992.

Help is available
You don’t have to go it alone. <strong>Advice</strong> and
in<strong>for</strong>mation is available to help you plan and
launch your <strong>new</strong> <strong>business</strong>.
Help with marketing and promoting
your <strong>business</strong>
DOC
www.doc.govt.nz
DOC is able to help disseminate in<strong>for</strong>mation about
activities through visitor centres and on the DOC website.
Tourism New Zealand
www.<strong>new</strong>zealand.com/travel/trade/marketing-toolbox/
toolbox.cfm
Tourism New Zealand has many resources on its website
including a ‘marketing toolbox’
Online <strong>business</strong> advice
Business.govt.nz
www.<strong>business</strong>.govt.nz/starting-up
This site has a complete guide to starting up a <strong>business</strong>
including:
l Business advice and support
l Business regulations including Health and Safety in
Employment Act 1992
l Business training and courses
l Employing staff
l Managing a <strong>business</strong>
l Protecting <strong>business</strong> assets
l Sales and marketing
l Starting or buying a <strong>business</strong>
l Tax <strong>for</strong> <strong>business</strong>es
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
www.nzte.govt.nz/GET-READY-TO-EXPORT/STARTING-
A-BUSINESS/Pages/Guides-to-starting-a-<strong>business</strong>.aspx
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise has some useful guides
to starting a <strong>business</strong>. The guides provide detailed
in<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>for</strong> deciding whether to go into <strong>business</strong>, and
how to go about doing it – from creating a <strong>business</strong> plan to
registering a trading name.
Published by
Department of Conservation, Private Bag 68 908, Newton
Auckland 1145, New Zealand May 2011
Face to face <strong>business</strong> advice
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
(ATEED)
www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ABOUTCOUNCIL/
HOWCOUNCILWORKS/CCO/Pages/tourism_events_
economic_development.aspx
Areas of activity include: visitor in<strong>for</strong>mation centres,
consumer marketing, trade training, media services,
<strong>business</strong> tourism sales and marketing, international
education marketing and events marketing.
Whether you’re starting a <strong>new</strong> <strong>business</strong> or wanting to
expand, we can help with a suite of tailored services
including; capability and skills development, research
and development funding advice and support, <strong>business</strong>
support and growth plans, and mentoring.
Contact:
Lorrin McCeery
Product Development and Regional Liaison, Tourism
Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development
Phone: 09 979 7021
Email: mccleery@aucklandnz.com
Chamber of Commerce
www.aucklandchamber.co.nz
Auckland@chamber.co.nz
The Chamber of Commerce supports and encourages
<strong>new</strong> <strong>business</strong> establishment, provides in<strong>for</strong>mation and
services to the <strong>business</strong> community, and offers training
and networking opportunities to Chamber of Commerce
members.
Business Mentors New Zealand
www.<strong>business</strong>mentors.org.nz
Business Mentors New Zealand provides a free mentoring
service to small to medium sized <strong>business</strong>es in New
Zealand. The mentoring service is available to any small to
medium <strong>business</strong> that is currently trading, has less than 25
employees and is the <strong>business</strong> owner’s primary source of
income.