Property Rights Petition Launched

Wednesday 15 Oct 2003 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Rural

ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff last night offered landowners an opportunity to speak out against further property rights abuse, by launching his petition, at the Government-organised meeting in Cromwell, to promote public access to private land.

"Labour's feeble attempts to consult with landowners on the findings of the Land Access Ministerial Reference Group's report have been nothing short of a sham. The report offers little more than a platform for Labour to launch an all out assault on New Zealanders' property rights," Mr Eckhoff said.

"My petition will seek to protect the sanctity of property rights. It demands that, under no circumstances, should the Government legislate for public access to private land without compensation, and that it upholds the sanctity of the traditional and cultural private property rights of all New Zealanders.

"This is one of the most important issues that we - especially farmers - have ever faced. That is why I'm hopeful that my petition will be as successful as my flatulence tax petition, which attracted the support of 60,000 people from both urban and rural New Zealand.

"It is clear that Labour has targeted outdoor recreational groups as a potential voting bloc for the next election. Its actions show it is determined to lock in this vote by removing the rights of landowners and giving them to this grouping.

"I believe Labour is determined to further erode the rights of all New Zealanders. Its attempts must be resisted at every turn by anyone who believes in the sanctity of private property rights - I urge all New Zealanders to sign my petition and send a strong message to the Labour Government," Mr Eckhoff said.

* A copy of the petition can be found at: http://www.act.org.nz/action/propertyrightspetition.pdf
ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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