Auckland Stakeholder Meeting 09 October 2003
Barrycourt Best Western, 10-20 Gladstone Road, Parnell
2pm to 4pm
10 Attended (NZ Waterways Association Charitable Trust, Te Araroa Trust, Rodney District Council, Carter Holt Harvey, Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game, 4WD NZ, Auckland Tramping Club, DOC)
Commentary
· How would `waterways' be defined if some form of access arrangement were established by law?
- Who would pay rates on it?
- Would it constrain other uses?
- Is it possible to predetermine uses and if that occurred, who would pay rates?
· Would the statutory trust idea apply in cities and urban areas?
- Would the same logic apply as a matter of principle to urban areas?
· The `high-level' policy decision in the report is the fundamental point.
· Compliment on the report.
- Agree that access is being lost, leadership is needed.
- Leadership/location/lengthening of walkways/liaison/legislation.
- Goodwill exists, but it is being eroded.
- People are acquiring land without being aware of New Zealand values.
· The report is very good.
- Agree that wander at will is not needed.
- New Zealanders need to be able to access their resources/implement Queen Victoria's ideal.
- Need leadership, DOC and local authorities are not doing their job: examples include Otohoranga District Council (leasing esplanade reserve), South Waikato District Council (closure of unformed legal road at Putaruru), Hauraki District Council (closure of recreational reserve).
- An access way in the Kaimais is blocked, the landowner was approached by a guide for exclusive access.
- Exclusive capture is becoming a problem.
- Supports a responsible, independent agency.
· Te Araroa is receiving good co-operation from DOC and the Rodney District Council.
- Likes and appreciates fishers accessways.
- Rates relief is being given by some local authorities.
· 4WD: There is a degree of agreement between the objectives of 4WD and the objectives of the report.
- Need to protect their options, e.g. legal road.
- With only a necessity to advertise in the local paper, it is easy to miss public notices.
- There could be a role for a Commissioner, such as the Ombudsman's office type role or function).
- Would not want current legal roads that make up a Queen's Chain to be deemed as something else.
· Rodney District Council: The Queen's Chain is being gained quickly with a lot of subdivision.
- The report is very helpful in exploring legislation.
- The walkway strategy rapidly becomes out of date because of development/lifestyles/lots of requests to alter esplanade reserves/requirements to create esplanade strips rather than reserves (do not have the resources to manage reserves).
- What mechanism to use is unclear?
- It is an area of importance for the Rodney District Council, but guidance is needed.
· Carter Holt Harvey: What is meant by walking access, because it is going to cost?
- Does this need to be defined?
- What are DOC's priorities - conservation or recreation or both?
· DOC: The recent announcement of a recreational facilities review is an opportunity to review walkways.
· There has been a shift in DOC in providing recreational access opportunities, more responsibility falls now on rural landowners to provide these opportunities.
· DOC did not put a great deal of effort into walkways.
· Would Crown land under Crown forestry licence, if returned to Maori as a result of a successful claim, be returned as general title land or customary title land, as it would affect access opportunities?
· Compensation.
- Money is an issue.
- There needs to be some recognition of the costs on landowners, e.g. rates relief.
· Need a body to monitor the closure of paper roads.
- Paper roads could have been repositioned.
- Should DOC do this?
- Submitting a petition seeking navigation of New Zealand waterways being maintained.
- Ownership of lakebeds.
· Need for all paper roads to be included in a readily available book.
· Will the report cover all land including Maori land?
- There are large amounts of land under Maori control that affect anglers.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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