A plan to turn a 35 million year old cave system in the Kahurangi National Park into a tourist hotspot has some conservationists worried about an increased risk to native wildlife.
The Oparara Arch. Photo: Supplied / Neil Silverwood
The Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have been developing the plan for the Oparara Basin which is 20 kilometres north of Karamea.
They want it to be like a lost world that would include light shows, artificial moas and giant haast eagles - but critics say it sounds more like a theme park.
Kate Gudsell filed this report
An image from the DOC plan shows the giant moa installation which could be used at the Oparara caves. Photo: DOC
