A growing number of people enjoy outdoor recreation. Many of us like to visit our rural, backcountry, coastal and road-end areas. With this rise in use has come an increasing impact on the natural environment. Damaged plants, unsightly rubbish, eroding short cuts, polluted water, and deteriorating facilities are becoming more common, but are easily avoidable.

Fortunately, along with the increase in the number of visitors, a more sensitive attitude to the environment is developing. Many picnickers, trampers, hunters, walkers, campers and other visitors to our natural areas realise that we must adopt a more caring attitude to the environment.

To help protect the natural environment and to ensure others for many generations to come can enjoy New Zealand as you will, the Department of Conservation have develloped the following guidelines:

Protect plants and animals

Treat New Zealand’s forests and birds with care and respect. They are unique and often rare.

Remove rubbish

Litter is unattractive, harmful to wildlife and can increase vermin and disease. Plan your visits to reduce
rubbish, and carry out what you carry in.

Bury toilet waste

In areas without toilet facilities, bury your toilet waste in a shallow hole well away from waterways, tracks,
campsites, and huts.

Keep streams and lakes clean

When cleaning and washing, take the water and wash well away from the water source. Because soaps
and detergents are harmful to water-life, drain used water into the soil to allow it to be filtered. If you
suspect the water may be contaminated, either boil it for at least 3 minutes, or filter it, or chemically treat it.

Take care with fires

Portable fuel stoves are less harmful to the environment and are more efficient than fires. If you do use a
fire, keep it small, use only dead wood and make sure it is out by dousing it with water and checking the
ashes before leaving.

Camp carefully

When camping, leave no trace of your visit.

Keep to the track

By keeping to the track, where one exists, you lessen the chance of damaging fragile plants.

Consider others

People visit the back country and rural areas for many reasons. Be considerate of other visitors who also
have a right to enjoy the natural environment.

Respect our cultural heritage

Many places in New Zealand have a spiritual and historical significance. Treat these places with
consideration and respect.

Enjoy your visit

Enjoy your outdoor experience. Take a last look before leaving an area; will the next visitor know that you
have been there?

Protect the environment for your own sake, for the sake of those who come after you, and for the
environment itself.

Toitu te whenua
(Leave the land undisturbed)

"The land is the property of a great family, some of whom are living, a few of whom are dead, most of whom are yet to come".