POLICY RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sell the Parks!

Libertarianz intend to begin the de-politicisation of the environment by preparing all government land for sale. The environmental aspects of this policy have attracted considerable interest, and we give some detail here.

In the case of National Park lands, these would have conservation covenants attached to their titles. These covenants would legally protect desirable features of these lands in perpetuity, and with infinitely more surety than is possible now. No longer will those valuing these features need to picket, agitate and petition for their protection - if features are covenanted, and covenant holders value them, they will be protected. These covenants could be vested in favour of current users, current interest groups, or local residents - they would be tradeable.

Recreational users of such lands will be able to register already existing interests. New Regional Land Courts will hear submissions from those wanting to register these interests on these titles, which will protect regular users of such lands. This registration process will preserve already existing easements created by long and continued usage, and might for example include protection of 'profits a prendre' easements allowing hunting rights, tramping rights and the like under recognised Common Law principles. These would also be tradeable.

A similar creation of riparian property rights in lakes, rivers, and other waterways could be effected once the Courts were clear of these all important land registrations.

Holders of such rights will of course have strong motivation to protect their rights, and to preserve their value. This, we submit, provides the strongest protection for environmental values.

All Department of Conservation facilities and staff attached to conservation lands would be privatised consistent with these land sales, and the Department itself abolished.

DoC staff involved in the construction of the Cave Creek viewing platform, and the Minister who protected them will be incarcerated.

ENDS

For more information contact: Peter Cresswell LIBERTARIANZ SPOKESMAN FOR DEREGULATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT Contact: Libertarianz Media Coordinator on (025) 861 927, e-mail: organon@ihug.co.nz

* LIBERTARIANZ * More Freedom * Less Government *

www.libertarianz.org.nz www.freeradical.co.nz

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