Saturday June 18, 2005

Land access: UF has the answers

United Future leader, Peter Dunne, says United Future's policies on rural land access have the potential to take all the heat out of the current argument raging among the nation's farmers.

"United Future and its affiliated party Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe strongly that farmers have the right to own and protect their private property and we also believe the public has the right to reasonable access to public property," he said today while visiting the agricultural fielddays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton.

"We do not favour the 'rambling' rights or 'right to roam' that have caused so much conflict in Britain. We want to maintain and enhance public access to public land."

Mr Dunne said United Future and ORNZ would (among other things);

· ensure the notional Queen's Chain is formally enshrined in legislation

· establish a land access agency to analyse, implement, administer and enforce a comprehensive land access strategy

· require the agency to negotiate specific access corridors across private land with landowners on a case-by-case basis

· establish a comprehensive land access database including maps and specific access corridor details.

"New Zealand has a strong tradition of access to the great outdoors, including a great tradition of landowners giving permission for members of the public to cross their land for recreational purposes.

"By balancing New Zealanders' rights of access to their natural heritage with the rights of property owners in a fair, clear and balanced way, United Future and ORNZ believe our access to the great outdoors can be reliably secured for the foreseeable future," said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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