Media Release
18 December 2003

DoC Acquires More Land

“The announcement that DoC is taking over management of Molesworth Station in Marlborough cannot be greeted with enthusiasm by the taxpayer, said New Zealand First’s conservation spokesman, Edwin Perry.

“DoC’s stated intention to finance more conservation, recreation and historic heritage preservation on the 180,000 hectare property means that funds will be stretched even further.

“The fact that less than 15 percent of the station is currently open to the public is because it is a working farm and public access and farming do not make a happy mix, said Mr Perry.

“The Minister of Conservation’s comments that there are 77 rare species on Molesworth and DoC will focus on protecting them and informing the public about them are also not confidence inspiring. DoC is already responsible for more land and threatened species than it can adequately manage.

“This acquisition also raises several questions such as how much South Island high country DoC wants in the conservation estate, where the additional funds for administration are coming from and whether it is ecologically wise for that particular piece of land to be opened up in its entirety.

“When all DoC’s current estate is adequately managed, predators are under control throughout the country and conservation plans are in place for threatened species, that would be the time to take over more land, said Mr Perry.

ENDS

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