The Abel Tasman National Park has come under increasing pressure over recent years in coping with increasing numbers of visitors who want to experience this unique natural environment. Annual visitor numbers now exceed 250,000 and the most popular hut and campsites have a visitor peak of between 1,000 and 2,000 visitors per day. The Park's existing toilet facilities were not designed to meet the needs of growing numbers of visitors so Montgomery Watson Harza was commissioned by DOC to develop sustainable solutions for managing human waste and washing water at hut and camping sites across the Park.

Characteristics of Technology

• Collaborative Interdisciplinary practice

Characteristics of Technological Outcomes

• Socio-technological environments

Technological Systems

• The role of integrated subsystems in complex system design, development and maintenance

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Department of Conservation

Discussion starters:

• List the range of organisations actively involved in the upgrade of the national park's sewage management system and describe the complementary nature of their roles.
• How did the 'quality' of the final outcome benefit from this level of collaboration?
• How was iwi understanding of the fitness for purpose of the upgrade facilitated by DOC?
• Explain how the unique physical environment impacted on the development of the new sewage system.
• Different types of sewage solutions were chosen for specific locations throughout the park. Explain.
• Describe the benefits to be gained from the use of the toilets finally chosen.