Sport NZ Sport and Recreation Knowledge Library: New Zealand-based sport and recreation research

Addressing the different information needs of diverse visitors to Arthurs Pass National Park Research Completed

Title

Addressing the different information needs of diverse visitors to Arthurs Pass National Park

Lead Author

Carla Catherine Vieira Avendaño

Organisation(s)

University of Otago, School of Design

Publication Year

2012

Publisher

University of Otago

Contacts

Dr Mick Abbott
University of Otago,School of Design

Email: mick.abbott@otago.ac.nz

Abstract

The New Zealand landmass encompasses a vast diversity of wilderness areas, including fourteen national parks and other conservation lands. These natural environments attract a large number of domestic and international visitors, who consult a many different sources of on-line and printed information before and during their visit. However, these resources are usually designed to suit a generic visitor, and take no account of the different needs and expectation of diverse individuals.

In this thesis, I investigate the use of information resources by different users groups as categorized by the Wilderness Perception Scaling (WPS) method. I begin with a review of relevant studies and statistics relating to domestic and international visitors’ experiences of the New Zealand wilderness. I then report on the results of my direct observations of visitors to three destinations, and I discuss the findings that I gathered from surveys that I conducted in two of these locations. This work includes pilot studies of two sites — the Catlins Conservation Park and the Orokonui Ecosanctuary — and a more detailed study of Arthur’s Pass National Park. Following a discussion of my observations and findings, I argue for a redesign of the Department of Conservation (DOC) Website, and I present sketch ideas for a new site that is informed by mobile media interface designs. This work hints at future possibilities for smartphone applications.

I conclude that current technologies allow us to address the needs and expectations of different visitors to wilderness areas. Furthermore, I argue that mobile media can enable individuals to create and share, as well as download and use, information resources that address their various and different requirements. I conclude that, if we want younger people to engage with wilderness environments, we should be using the technologies that they are using.

Keywords:

Arthur’s; Pass; National; Park; New; Zealand; WPS; Wilderness; Perceptions; Smartphone; application; DOC; website; domestic; international; visitors; statistics; tourism; carla; vieira; design; icons; iphone; mobile; socila; network; feedback; sharing; information; experiences; environments; conervation; backpack; iSite; Visitor; Centre; Trampers; Non-Purist; Moderate-Purist; Neutralist-Purist; Strong-Purist; Stankey; Kearsley; Lovelock; Highman; Wolch; Tinsley; Recreation; Orokonui-Ecosanctuary; Catlins; Outdoor-recreation; Klisley; Ho; Carr-Williams; Satisfaction

How to access

Areas of Focus

Population Groups

Settings (location)

Provision (delivery type & infrastructure)

National Parks, Parks - remote/backcountry