Neil Clifton, Ranger Record: Tongariro National Park, senior Ranger/Assistant Chief Ranger(1985-1997)

Towards the end of the Park District exchange I was advised that I was appointed to a senior ranger position at Whakapapa district at Tongariro National Park,  which I took up in November 1985.  Dave Mazey was the Assistant Chief Ranger and Bruce Jefferies, the Chief Ranger.

On Dave Mazey’s appointment as manager of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), I was appointed Assistant Chief Ranger, initially working with Bruce Jefferies and then Paul Green.  After working as a reserves ranger on what seemed like a ‘conservation frontier’ on the West Coast, working back in the national park with its well defined boundaries and structure, took some adjusting to -  although the special allure of Tongariro remained.

One incident I recall in particular from this time was when Coca Cola chose the Whakapapa Ski field area to film an advertisement for a new product called ‘Sprite’. The park management plan had quite specific policies which did not allow commercial helicopter use in vicinity of the ski field area. By the time Paul Green took up his appointment as chief ranger, Coca Cola had booked out The Chateau, constructed their ski field props and had their stars lined up for filming.  I was impressed with Paul’s courage when he told the company that their helicopter use was unable to proceed. In the next day or so, the company abandoned their programme and vacated the hotel. A bonus for the villagers was a large amount of ski gear and clothing that was sold off at bargain basement prices.

In early 1987 my ranger career as with all Lands and Survey rangers, came to an end when we all received letters advising that we were to be transferred to the Department of Conservation. I was appointed Deputy Regional Manager West Coast and our family transferred back to Hokitika.