NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES

NZ Lands and Survey Rangers' Archive

The Interpretation, Planning and Design Centre

Details

Alternative TitleVisual Production Unit Last edited by: Rob Greenaway

Period ActiveFrom mid 1970s. In 1990 its name was changed to the Conservation Design Centre under DOC Last edited by: Rob Greenaway

Description The national Lands and Survey interpretation design and delivery service. Studio based in Marsden Valley, Nelson. A Labour government regional development initiative. Previously part of National Publicity Studios in Wellington.

From the Department of Conservation's 2005 Interpretation Handbook and Standard (see external link at right)
"In America from the 1920s, interpretation momentum grew as expansion of the railways made parks more accessible. After World War Two there was a huge growth in parkbased concession activities and improvements in facilities and services for visitors. New Zealand park interpretation began to flourish in the 1960s with summer nature programmes. By the early 1980s summer programmes were common place in national and forest parks. Professional training in parks and recreation management at Lincoln College for both trainees and existing rangers included interpretation. Influenced by the US parks service, visitor centres were developed in the 1970s and 80s for almost all national parks and many forest and regional parks. An interpretation design centre was established by the Lands and Survey Department in Nelson in 1977." Last edited by: Rob Greenaway

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