Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand Inc

7 March 2007

MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 1:00pm Wednesday 7 March 2006 when the Acland Panel Report is released

Land Access Report Welcomed But Disappointment That Panel Too Timid

The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations (CORANZ) has welcomed the release of the long awaited Acland Access Consultation Panel Report today.

Spokesman Dr Hugh Barr said “This report provides a unique opportunity for the Government to redress the erosion of public access rights that has occurred in the last twenty years. Agencies that defended public access rights were lost during the Rogernomics privatisations of Government agencies. Public access lost out as a consequence” Dr Barr said.

“We are pleased too that the overarching principles, derived from public consultation are sound. But we are concerned that the follow-through implementation of these principles is sometimes weak” Dr Barr said.

“This Report, in proposing the setting up of a Public Access Commissioner to provide leadership and act as a catalyst to improve public access addresses a major public need” Dr Barr said. It is especially heartening that it will deal with all types of public access matters. However, it is important that the Commissioner has teeth, is able to show leadership, and has a strong mandate to defend fairly the public’s rights of access. The Commissioner also provides the opportunity for dialogue between responsible recreational user groups and the rural community”.

“CORANZ has previously expressed concern about the landowner and rural interests of the majority of the Panel” Dr Barr said. “It is disappointing that the panel was so polarised by this, that they forced their only outdoor recreation specialist, Bryce Johnson to write a minority report covering several key matters. We strongly support Bryce’s report and its recommendations, especially concerning restoring and re-aligning lost water margin access. We thank him for having the courage to stand up for public access on the Panel.”

“The Panel’s bias and lack of access knowledge shows through in some recommendations. For example, they propose New Zealand Walkways as a walking access solution over private land. Yet this type of walkway has been a failure in the 30 years it has operated. It is one of the weakest forms of walking access, and can usually be closed for up to 3 months each year. And it has never been accepted by the rural community. Ninety percent of New Zealand Walkways are over public land where the public has access rights anyway, not private land” Dr Barr said.

“CORANZ welcomes the Panel’s support for more use of unformed legal roads “Dr Barr said. “These are Crown owned strips across private land, to which the Public has access rights, just as they do on formed public roads. They provide opportunities for public access but they are currently not signposted or generally known to the public.”

ENDS

The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations (CORANZ) is the national council of seven major national outdoor recreation associations – The Federation of Freshwater Anglers, New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, Public Access New Zealand, New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association, New Zealand Bowhunters Society, New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association; option 4 (Recreational seafishing), and the Marlborough Recreational Fishers Association. CORANZ seeks discussion and common ground on outdoor recreation issues.

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