Messages of support for Department of Conservation staff covered the doors of the Dunedin office yesterday in an appeal to the Government to reconsider cutting jobs.
Forest and Bird Dunedin spokesman Mark Hanger said about 180 messages were stuck on the doors of the Dunedin Doc office for ''Love Doc Day'' yesterday.
The event was organised by Forest and Bird, after the department last month announced 140 job cuts. The messages would be presented to politicians, Mr Hanger said.
''There's a Budget in six weeks so that's the opportunity for the Government to take heed of public opinion.''
Fewer Doc staff would result in substandard tracks and tourists holidaying elsewhere.
''If the Doc estate is not as well maintained as it is now, then that is going to have an effect on international tourism and that probably won't take very long.''
Ethos New Zealand director Robyn McLeod said her Dunedin-based boutique travel company, which arranged travel for ''high-end'' Canadian and American tourists, would be adversely affected by the Doc job cuts.
Doc was integral to tourists being able to access remote places and wildlife, she said.
Tourists were big spenders and, if there were cuts, she feared that money would go to other destinations. Dunedin resident John Burke said he stood outside the Doc office yesterday holding on to sea lion decoy because he wanted funding for scientific research on New Zealand's flora and fauna to continue.
Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell said Doc had lost 10% of its staff in the past two years and $54 million of government funding in the past four years.
