1 June 2007 - Wellington

High Country Station Purchase a Bonus for Conservation

Forest & Bird is delighted that the Government has bought Michael Peak Station in Central Otago for conservation and recreation.

Nearly 7000 hectares of the 9000ha station will become part of the proposed Oteake Conservation Park.

Forest & Bird Southern Field Officer Sue Maturin says the purchase announced today will hasten the creation of the Oteake Conservation Park on the St Bathan/Hawkdun and Ida Ranges. Forest &Bird has identified Oteake as a priority for high country protection in its proposed “six-pack of parks”.

Sue Maturin says the purchase of whole high country pastoral leases such as Michael Peak Station are better for conservation than deals made under the tenure review process, under which parts of pastoral lease properties go into the conservation estate while others parts are given freehold to former leaseholders.

The Michael Peak purchase is particularly good as the Crown will be able to protect the biodiversity-rich valley floors, which are often traded away under tenure review deals.

For example, on the neighbouring Braeside pastoral lease property, which underwent tenure review, the Crown paid nearly $1 million for high altitude land, while the most important lowland red tussockland was given away. Forest & Bird believes these tussocklands should have formed the entrance to the Oteake Conservation Park.

In contrast, the Michael Peak Station purchase is likely to result in a much better future Oteake Conservation Park than could have been achieved through tenure review.

“Forest & Bird wants to see more full property purchases like this, where there is a win-win outcome, both for farmers and for conservation,” Sue Maturin says.

Forest & Bird is campaigning to protection the conservation, recreation and heritage values of the high country for all New Zealanders through the establishment of a network of high country parks.

ENDS

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