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The Government's formal acceptance of a report recommending voluntary agreements with landowners for walking access across their properties has been applauded by outdoor enthusiasts and farmers alike.
Rural Affairs Minister Damien O'Connor yesterday announced the Government had formally adopted the recommendations laid out in an independent report released in March.
After extensive consultation, the panel concluded landowners should retain the right to block people walking across their land to publicly owned rivers, lakes and coastline.
In 2005, the Government shelved legislation to create marginal access strips across private land to important recreational waterways after a huge backlash from farmers.
The report recommended access to such waterways should continue to be negotiated on a voluntary basis, and compulsion - through the Public Works Act - used only as a last resort.
It also recommended setting up a land access commission which would gather centralised information on the country's 59,000km of unformed legal roads, organise signage and negotiate with landowners.
The commission would be responsible for invoking the Public Works Act "in exceptional circumstances" if necessary.
Mr O'Connor said yesterday an advisory board was being set up within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to oversee implementation of the recommendations.
"The Labour-led Government's approach to securing new public walking access involving private land is based on building on the existing goodwill and co-operation of landholders, rather than one of confrontation and compulsion," he said.
"There is no 'one size fits all' solution as each issue is likely to have a distinct history and set of circumstances."
The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations welcomed the Government's formalisation of its position. Spokesman Hugh Barr said the changes would be valuable to both outdoor recreation and the rural community.
Fish and Game New Zealand said it supported the ongoing development of policy to enhance public access. "Public access to public resources is extremely important to most New Zealanders," said chief executive Bryce Johnson.
"Both the quantity and quality of this access has been eroded over recent years due to changing land use and ownership, and shifting riverbanks.
"The development of public access maps and signage, and underlining the value of unformed legal roads are positive steps for securing the future."
Federated Farmers spokesman Bruce McNab said the organisation was pleased the Government had emphasised voluntary negotiation instead of regulation to extend access over private land.
- NZPA
