Fears over future access to forests

Users of Rotorua's Whakarewarewa and Kaingaroa forests fear their access could be in jeopardy when the assets are handed over to Maori ownership.

Hunters and fishermen won't get permits for Kaingaroa after September so access issues can be sorted with the new owners, who take ownership next month. Whakarewarewa forest event organisers and commercial businesses operating there are also uncertain about their futures.

A spokesman for the iwi told the Daily Post he could not give any assurances until they had met forest managers Timberlands and the Rotorua District Council.

From July 1, ownership of 176,000ha of the Central North Island's forests will be transferred to the Central North Island Iwi Collective under the so-called Treelords agreement.

Iwi collective spokesman Pelenato Sakalia said he understood forest users' concern and had been in talks with the Rotorua District Council and Timberlands.

"A three-month notice period is in place from July 1 and our intention is to allow all parties to get together and work this all out."

Issues about fees to use the forests would be sorted out during that time. "Come July 1, we can all sit down and get an understanding of what's going on in there," Mr Sakalia said.

Commercial use of the forest by rafting companies and Rotorua events, like the Cateye Moonride, may be in jeopardy if a decision is delayed.

River Rats Raft and Kayak owner-operator Justin Hutton said almost 25 per cent of his business relied on being able to access the Rangitaiki River through Kaingaroa Forest. He had been advised by Timberlands his permit to access the forest would not be renewed after July 1.

"The short notice is a bit of a worry, we were only advised of this on June 8," Mr Hutton said.

"This is definitely a concern for us, but we understand the iwi's position and it is their right to say yes or no. We don't expect to get something for nothing... We just hope they can come up with an interim solution until they can sort out their end of things."

Cateye Moonride event director Murray Fleming said it would be a shame to lose his event but he was optimistic.

"Everything has been up in the air for the past three or four years but I'm sure they will make a positive move," he said.

Hunters like Rotorua's Martin Spiers wondered if it would be "Mt Tarawera all over again". In 2000, Mt Tarawera New Zealand gained sole access to the mountain, winning a contract from iwi owners Ngati Rangitihi. The company banned free recreational use and started running guided tours up the mountain.

- ROTORUA DAILY POST