Attitudes Toward Recreation and Tourism Development in the Coastal Zone: A New Zealand Study

Recent reform of the institutional arrangements that influence resource management in New Zealand has established a much stronger mandate for public involvement in decisions, including especially those that affect the use of resources in the coastal zone. There is a consequent need to identify appropriate methods and techniques that will enable planners and managers to solicit effectively the public's views on development alternatives. The empirical study reported here focuses on options for recreation and tourism infrastructure development in Whangaroa Harbour, an undeveloped part of the coast of New Zealand's North Island. The survey method was designed to identify residents ‘ attitudes in general to the promotion of recreation and tourism in the area. It was intended to solicit also more precise information on the preferences of both residents and visitors with respect to the type, style, and location of development within the harbor area.