Rakiura (Stewart Island), Our Primeval Paradise - Lawrence Elliott

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The Scene: Insulated from the world by its remoteness at the southern end of New Zealand, Stewart Island Is a haven for people looking for nature, tranquility and adventure. Its untouched nature making it a primeval paradise, an artefact of pre settlement time. About 85% of the Island is a national park. Its only town, Oban, sits between Rakiura National Park and the shores of Half-moon Bay, nestled amongst the native bush overlooking Foveaux Strait and provides a gateway into New Zealand's third island. Over the past two decades Stewart Island's economic activities have shifted from fisheries to predominantly tourism driven. In recent years plans to make the Island predator free have been proposed and are ill early stages of implementation.

Overall Goals:

• Development of the township which supports the vision of becoming a predator free island which in turn supports the growth of the tourism industry. 
• Development of a township which fosters an interchange between the tourist and the local, in order to give a much more authentic place based focus to the local tourism industry.
• Leveraging the tourism industry off of the ecological development to provide more opportunities and experiences for visitors. 
• Blur the boundaries between the township and island to provide experiential qualities and ecosystem services.