The Otago Daily Times understands a small mining operation was conducted in the remote Red Hills area, near the head of the Pyke River and close to the Olvine Wilderness Plateau of the national park in South Westland.
The Red Hills area has been recognised in a leaked memo as an area of the Mount Aspiring National Park that could have its protected status lifted by the Government to allow mining.
A report from government officials has recommended the Red Hills area in the west of the park, and a 20% chunk of the park in the northwest sector, be removed from schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.
Department of Conservation South Westland area manager Jo Macpherson said she did remember "old" reports of a mining operation in the area.
However, no records were "available at hand" regarding the remote mining operation, she said.
The Encyclopedia of New Zealand website Te Ara includes an excerpt on the asbestos-mining prospectors' camp near the Pyke River, at the base of Red Mountain in the national park during the 1970s.
Helicopters serviced the camp while prospectors worked higher up the slopes.
Asbestos was found but the quality was too low and the location was too remote for mining to be feasible, Te Ara says.
Mount Aspiring National Park was created in 1964.
Ms Macpherson said permits could still be sought for mining activities in the national park.
These would be considered against the relevant policies and regulations of the Mount Aspiring National Park management plan, which was under review, she said.
