26 October 2007
Media Statement

Spectacular new park largest created in decades

Snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and a popular skifield are included within the boundary of the largest public park created in more than twenty years, Conservation Minister Chris Carter announced today.

The new Hakatere Conservation Park is more than 68,000ha in the beautiful Ashburton Lakes area. It not only brings together 19 separate areas of conservation land but just-concluded negotiations mean historic Hakatere Station, on the shores of Lake Clearwater, will now be added.

“This huge new park is a special place, a landscape of clear streams and red tussock, of braided rivers, wetlands and alpine habitat where a host of rare native species can be found,” Mr Carter said.

“The park’s creation demonstrates not only the commitment of the Labour-led government to securing some of New Zealand’s most precious landscapes for all New Zealanders to enjoy but also the hard work by Land Information New Zealand and the Department of Conservation over some years.”

The Green Party chose Ashburton Lakes and the upper Rangitata River as one of three sites to receive funding for restoration of wetlands.

Mr Carter said: “Hakatere Conservation Park offers a truly New Zealand experience with almost endless recreational opportunities including water skiing, sailing, trout fishing and tramping. It is also significant that so much lakeshore will now be preserved for the public for all time.”

Mt Hutt skifield is within the park’s boundary and the upper reaches of the Ashburton Lakes basin are a gateway for big game hunters, ski tour operators and mountain climbers.

“I particularly want to congratulate the owners of Hakatere Station for their foresight in recognising the conservation values of their land and choosing to sell it into public ownership,” Mr Carter said.

The public will have access to pastoral lease areas of Hakatere Station when settlement takes place in November 2007 but the freehold will remain in private ownership until July 2008. The Nature Heritage Fund paid $7.2 million to buy Hakatere Station.

ENDS

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