Public toilets across New Zealand’s Department of Conservation sites are stocked with a staggering 15.5 million metres of toilet paper this year.
That’s enough to stretch nearly 10 times the length of New Zealand, according to new data released by DOC.
The southern South Island, home to Fiordland and its Great Walks, headed the pack with more than 3.1 million metres ordered for the 2024/2025 period.
Close behind was the northern South Island, home to the Abel Tasman Great Walk and the Tōtaranui campground, with 3 million metres ordered. The Hauraki Waikato Taranaki (including the Coromandel) ordered 2.7 million metres.
Ranger Daryl Sweeney looked after DOC sites in Canterbury, including the facilities at Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill on the highway to Arthurs Pass and the West Coast.
“It’s shocking how much toilet paper is used,” he said. “Sometimes it’s piled up beside the toilet in a mountain. The state some of the toilets are left in is also appalling to be honest.”
Sweeney said that everyone had a part to play in looking after nature, and it would be a huge bonus for him if the toilets were left in a better state.
“I’m answering other people’s calls of nature,” he joked. “But it’s about time people answered their own and respected the amazing places they are visiting. I feel like, if people had to do my job for a day, they’d understand.”
DOC North Canterbury operations manager Leeann Ellis said Sweeney was one of many rangers who travelled hundreds of kilometres each week to maintain facilities.
“Many people don’t realise this is a core role DOC undertakes. It takes a huge amount of time for our rangers and some of what they deal with would turn your stomach,” she said.
With the King’s Birthday long weekend approaching and Great Walk bookings open, DOC was reminding the public to look after the public facilities, to read the signs and not leave rubbish for others to pick up.
“Use the toilets provided, use less toilet paper, put it in the toilet or the bin and leave the toilet in a tidy state. It’s simple.”
