A major environmental remediation project in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has been successfully completed, removing decades-old waste from two former landfill sites located near Aoraki/Mount Cook Village.
The $3.32 million cleanup project was jointly funded by the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for the Environment, each contributing $1.66 million. The work focused on removing approximately 2,500 cubic metres of waste that had been deposited in the area between 1950 and 1980.
Officials confirmed that the landfills, situated around three kilometres from the village, had become increasingly vulnerable to erosion and flooding. In 2022, flooding caused waste from one of the sites to spill into the Hooker River, raising concerns about water quality and environmental safety in the wider catchment.
Environment Minister Nicola Grigg said the project was essential to prevent further contamination, noting that the excavation and safe disposal of waste at a licensed facility would reduce ongoing environmental risks. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka emphasized that the area’s ecological sensitivity required urgent intervention to protect waterways, ecosystems, and natural values.
The cleanup is part of a broader effort by the Department of Conservation to address legacy landfill sites and contaminated areas across New Zealand that are increasingly threatened by environmental change. The project was carried out with support from Environment Canterbury under the Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund.
Work on the remediation began in April 2026 and was completed in early June, marking a significant step in safeguarding one of the country’s most important alpine environments.
