Wellington Public Meeting 16 October 2003
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
7pm to 9pm
100 Attended
Commentary
· When linking esplanade reserves etc, what would trigger them?
- What would the size of a river be before a reserve was required?
- Putting links in the Queen's Chain should be done locally, negotiated.
· Supports clarification of public rights of access to public land.
- Reference to Dominion Post article of 16/10 - it seems as if the right to roam has crept in.
- Uncomfortable with aspects about where this is going - are mountain bikes and vehicles next?
- The farmer will make it open at his discretion, he does not need bureaucracy to negotiate with.
· David Carter: Where does the process head to now?
- Are you determining policy regarding the right to roam, as it was said that it was off the agenda?
- It is not correct to say that it is off the agenda until the Government says so.
· Gerry Eckhoff: Were you personally comfortable with Gottlieb Braun-Elwert being on the Group, given that he is the Prime Minister's personal guide?
- This is a `huge issue' for the party and for the people who he represents.
· Fish and Game was originally concerned with membership of the committee and its balance, but it is an excellent report.
· Could paper roads in the future revert/change to walking access only?
- Could they exclude vehicular access in the future?
· Councils are responsible for paper roads and get the action on this, so why have another agency?
· A lot of district councils are doing good work and they do not own roads, do not quote regional councils as they do not have a role in this.
· Stephen Franks: Concerned that a national agency would not recognise local needs - they also find it hard to make exceptions.
- Local agencies can tailor result and do a good job.
- What is the value of expropriation of braided riverbeds if access is given?
- The report does not seem to have attempted that exercise.
- A value should also be given for access denied to public land.
· Canoe club: Access is of concern to canoe clubs.
- They would want to maintain access.
- Clubs here have enjoyed access.
- Entry and exit points to rivers are necessary.
- Need to maintain these points.
- They would not want to have the English situation where canoeists have to drop off bridges onto rivers.
· Has there been any discussion on compensation and use of legislative coercive powers?
· Does the common law right of access exist?
· Access has to be a two-way and balanced thing.
- Problems of OSH legislation, dogs, guns and `boy racers'.
- There has to be something to protect property.
- The police do not come.
- Farming next to a city is difficult.
· People have no sense of property, as the right to roam appears to exist for some, people come off the Belmont Regional Park onto property.
- There is potential for cannabis plots.
- People do not stick to marked routes.
- Interested in the code of conduct, but it needs teeth.
- Need constraints, more responsibilities and decent penalties.
· Fish and Game is marking tracks/access to rivers.
- The Group needed to confront the issue of paying for access; fluctuating access prices; and paying for access to beaches.
- Risk of monopoly.
· Is there any merit in local authorities being required to have an enforceable regime?
- Access licence.
- Could ban people.
· How can the Maori trust idea be applied when it only applies when land is sold outside the hapu?
- Who would bear the price of a statutory trust?
· Gerry Eckhoff: Concern about personal safety/rural crime.
- He has never denied access.
- Worried about wives and families at home.
- `massive' increase in crime in rural areas.
- Where access is increased, more problems will be created and increase.
- Applauds the traditional use of the outdoors, but farmers must have the right to say no and protect the sanctity of the property right.
· It is as dangerous in urban areas as it is in rural areas.
· Commends the report.
· Who will maintain access (councils)?
· Anglers can help monitor crime/theft/cannabis growing in areas of greater access.
- People on marginal strips will be in known areas, not roaming.
- It is part of New Zealand life that fishers and hunters have a good rapport with landowners.
· An access strip helps to control access.
· The Trespass Act is not rigorous, farmers cannot ask to see a gun license.
- Legislation needs to be more rigorous, especially for hunters, who are `not very honest'.
- The Act needs to be redefined.
· The issue is about negotiated access, not to annoy landowners.
· Stephen Franks: Anglers are the least troublesome, can be the eyes and ears of the farmer.
- When switched to a right, it is not just anglers.
- There will never be a meeting of minds until farmers feel that their current rights are being enforced.
· Security is quite an issue.
- Shut farm for four months of the year, get problems, people ask for access late at night.
- Are tighter controls going to be introduced?
- Concerned about possible loss to say no.
- Do not want to be `over-accessed'.
- Major concern with firearms and dogs.
- All farmers need fishing licences.
- Do not want another agency to get involved.
· Foreshore access is managed access, e.g. by registering vehicles, which can assist in controlling access.
- It is a different problem with the foreshore.
- More participation and communication is needed in the process.
· There needs to be a broader attach on educating New Zealanders about farming and how to do things in rural New Zealand.
- Users could develop an education programme about access.
· Forest and Bird acknowledges the impacts that access can have.
- Has the walkways system created problems, or increased crime?
- Have not heard of any.
- Supports a code of conduct, such as in the high country.
· Fish and Game: Concern about rights.
- Landowners have rights but fish and game rights do not attach to the land.
- Exclusive capture.
- Land is being locked up.
- Need to explore incentives to encourage access to the land.
- The public move for access will not go away, it is in the interest of everyone to resolve the issue.
- New Zealanders need to work together.
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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