Maori View of Land Access
A submission from Maori makes the following points in terms of land access:
- the Crown, as a Treaty of Waitangi partner, has an obligation to actively protect the property interests of Maori land and the economic opportunities provided to Maori through their land.
- that access poses governance issues for Maori landowners and any access should be controlled by the owner/trustees/committee of management.
- that there are varying degrees of access between Maori trusts and incorporations.
- that public access hinders some potential economic opportunities. If there is any land that has public access, this access should only be for recreational purposes.
- that there needs to be more education about public access, in particular clear definitions of access.
- the Crown should provide funding for maintenance or compensation for Maori land vested in the public.
Another Maori submitter notes that historically Ngati Tuwharetoa has provided land and taonga for free public recreational enjoyment. Public access (mainly free) has been provided through its land, while protecting land to maintain and enhance the quality of existing recreational and natural landscapes and taonga, through mechanisms including:
- the gifting of ancestral lands including the nucleus of the Tongariro National Park and release of thousands of hectares of lands in association with this Park;
- agreement in 1926 to permit public access to Lake Taupo for fishing and recreational enjoyment;
- agreement in 1956 to permit public access to Lake Rotoaira for fishing;
- utilisation of substantial areas of Maori land and Ngati Tuwharetoa waters for the generation of hydro electric power;
- agreement to set aside riparian and local reserves for the protection of the catchments and water quality of Lake Taupo and Lake Rotoaira; and
- arrangements for controlled public access through wilderness areas in the ownership of the Trusts.
Any public access protocols should, according to a submitter, be fully compliant with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and the Crown's obligations to these principles. Any access negotiations with Maori should recognise Maori efforts to advance the general public interest with respect to access and the expectation of Maori to negotiate directly with the Crown on matters of public interest affecting their ancestral lands and waters.
Contact for Enquiries
Mark Neeson
Manager, Land and Water Policy
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Phone: +64 894 0703
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
