New Zealand River Management: Economic Values of Rangitata River Fishery Protection

Abstract

An individual travel cost model of recreation behaviour was applied to the Rangitata River fishery in New Zealand's South Island. Results from the model were used to help inform decisions about whether a water conservation order should be placed on the river. Travel cost results showed the high value of the Rangitata River compared with other premier New Zealand fisheries. Fishery benefits were dependent upon the distance to substitute and complementary fisheries. Failure to model the influence of other sites would have resulted in underestimation of Rangitata River use benefits. Results were also sensitive to assumptions about cost perceptions. This case study illustrates the method's potential for informing decision-makers about resource allocation decisions.