3 Overview Studies
Some general descriptive studies were found. The most notable of these is Stevens' 1974 Waitaki Catchment recreation study. It describes recreation activities of the 1970s without engaging in primary research. Kerr (2004) attempts to calculate the value of recreation in the lower catchment. This report is again not based on primary research and resulted in providing broad recreation value statements. Other studies, such as Baxter (1984) and Steven (1987), are examples of studies that give insight into small portions of the catchment activities. These studies are briefly discussed below as examples of general studies about the Waitaki Catchment that were found.
Stevens WJ. 1974. Recreation in the Waitaki: A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Diploma of Natural Resources. Lincoln University.
This research took a general look at recreation in the catchment. Because of the size of the area and the number of activities to cover the work is a very general description of recreation at the time. "I can only hope to present an adequate outline of the study area as it exists at present, the recreational activities and the facilities which serve them and any likely future developments which may occur" (Stevens, 1974, p. 1).
The aim of the work was to describe the importance of recreation in the area and within the context of the time it was written, pleaded for recreation to be considered alongside other factors, such as hydro-electricity planning when deciding on what future use of the area should be made. In talking of water body-based recreation, Steven's makes this comment: "Much work remains to be done if any quantitative assessments are to be made of the numbers of people who use them and what sort of activity they prefer but this was obviously somewhat outside the scope of a limited reports such as this one" (Stevens, 1974, p. 29).
The value of this study is that from a recreation perspective the issues currently being discussed are not new and the challenge faced by this study still remains. The study encouraged others to go and do further work to gain a better understanding of recreation in the catchment. In most cases this work is still to be completed.
Kerr GN. 2004. Lower Waitaki River Recreation Use Values: Report to Anderson Lloyd Cudwell. Lincoln University.
This report sought to identify the Waitaki River recreation values: "This scoping study seeks to identify the likely order of magnitude of lower Waitaki River recreation values, based on existing information. It does not address existence values" (Kerr, 2004, p. 3).
The report states, "Despite the river's popularity for recreation, there is very little information on Waitaki River recreation values. No primary research has been undertaken to measure the values of Waitaki River recreation activity levels, apart from fishing" (Kerr, 2004, p. 3).
The method used was: "(1) estimation of the value associated with each unit of recreation use, and (2) estimation of the amount of recreation use" (Kerr, 2004, p. 4).
The estimations used in the study were very broad and lead to this conclusion: "It is not possible to estimate the value of lower Waitaki River recreation with any precision" (Kerr, 2004, p. 13). The report also states: "The lack of information on activity levels has required some rather bold assumptions to be made" (Kerr, 2004, p. 13). Keeping in mind the very general information the report is based on, it makes this judgement: "The value of all recreation on the lower Waitaki River is likely to be considerably less than $2.5 million per year" (Kerr, 2004, p. 13).
Baxter PJ. 1984. Visual Impact with Drawdown: With Reference to the High Country Lakes of the Upper Waitaki Valley, New Zealand. Study submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Diploma in Landscape Architecture. Lincoln College.
This study provides a way to assess the environmental impacts caused by environment change. It discusses the changes in lake levels and the visual impacts that this creates. The approach of using layers to show different options for the same scene could be used in conjunction with the Q method used in the Lincoln University tourism studies to assess tourism scenic value preferences.
Steven JC. 1987. Commercial Recreation in the Pastoral High Country: Clarification of the Issues. A written report on a project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Resource Management. Lincoln University.
This thesis is a general review of commercial recreation in pastoral high country. It proposes a management framework but is not specific enough for this project.
