Media Release
Friday 22 June 2007

High Country Tenure Review Decision Welcomed

The StopTenureReview group supports the announcement by the Ministers of Conservation, Chris Carter, and Land Information, David Parker, to investigate the withdrawal of 40 leashold properties from South Island tenure review to protect important high country landscapes and biodiversity values.

It is a huge step in the right direction. The challenge now is to ensure that officials implement the government's direction.

StopTenureReview now calls on District Councils to follow the government's lead and undertake immediate steps to ensure adequate landscape and biodiversity protection on properties that have already gone through tenure review and been converted to freehold title.

The Group says some of these high country properties and their unique alpine landscapes, particularly around Lakes Wanaka, Wakatipu and Tekapo, are already under threat of subdivision and ‘nodal’ development.

Visit www.stoptenurereview.co.nz for up-to-date background on this land reform involving 20% of the South Island.

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