Farmers disappointed by Crown appeal

MINARET STATION
MEDIA STATEMENT
21 August 2009

Farmers disappointed by Crown appeal

The Crown has decided to appeal what it terms a ‘narrow component’ of the decision of the Land Valuation Tribunal regarding the valuation of Minaret Station, Lake Wanaka, for rental purposes.

The owner of the station, Jonathan Wallis, says that despite the wording of the Notice of the Appeal he takes some comfort in the ministers’ statement that the Crown does not seek to revisit the policy of the previous Government to include amenity values, but is seeking a clarification of only part of the decision.

“Until the Crown explains the exact outcome it is seeking, I cannot make a detailed response,” he says.  

“If the appeal does not challenge the fundamental determinations of the Tribunal regarding the description and value of improvements, nor the determination of where Minaret sits as a pastoral proposition, there are some positives for Minaret,” he says.

“But if they are seeking to have non-pastoral values included in the rental valuation, this would be highly problematic for all pastoral leases. Depending on the outcome, this would raise the prospect of yet a further appeal with Minaret supported by the High Country Accord representing all other high country lessees.”

Mr Wallis says the prospect of further litigation is disappointing. It means further financial and emotional cost for farming families who have already endured more than six years of uncertainty as a result of the previous Government’s decision to review its approach to rental valuations in the high country.

“Clarifying the decision will indeed come as a benefit for both the Crown and the farmers, but the costs will be substantial. The Government appears committed to seeking a legitimate sustainable approach to high country management, but in so doing they must respect the well established legal rights of lessees.”
 
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