LINZ welcomes release of PCE report

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has welcomed the report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment 'Change in the high country: Environmental stewardship and tenure review'.

LINZ Acting General Manager Policy Richard O'Reilly said the report offers a timely and independent review of high country management 11 years after the Crown Pastoral Land Act formalised the pastoral lease tenure review process.

"We welcome the PCE's recommendation that tenure review should continue, and the acknowledgement that important gains have been made for conservation, public access and economic diversification in the high country," Mr O'Reilly said.

LINZ will be studying the report and providing advice to the Minister for Land Information as part of work currently underway to develop and implement the Government's high country policy.

Mr O'Reilly said tenure review was a voluntary process, with reviews completed or unconditionally agreed for 68 high country pastoral leases out of 303. A further 96 properties are in tenure review, and 134 are not involved in the process.

"So far nearly 180,000 hectares of former pastoral leasehold land with conservation values has been transferred to Department of Conservation management, and about 200,000 hectares has been freeholded."

"The land transferred to DOC is contributing to biodiversity protection, public access and the network of high country parks. Farmers who have gained title to productive parts of their former lease can now carry out a wider range of activities, and continue making an important contribution to the economy."

ENDS

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