Park protesters lock out minister

Conservation Minister Chris Carter was blocked from attending his own park opening by a grader and an angry group of high country farmers yesterday.

The minister, with about 60 guests in tow, including Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton, was forced to abandon his planned opening and drive another 34km to get into the park another way after the grader barred an access road.

Mr Carter labelled farmer Peter Patterson, a neighbouring leaseholder of the new Ahuriri Conservation Park, "selfish" and "petty" for staging the protest.

"Today should have been a celebration of the permanent protection of one of the most valuable and spectacular landscapes in New Zealand," Mr Carter said.

"Instead it has been marred by a petty, selfish protest."

Yesterday was to have been the celebration of years of planning to acquire the 49,000ha park, a spectacular slice of mountains, lakes and valleys which cost around $10 million.

But some farmers are angry the Department of Conservation (DoC) has locked a gate inside Ahuriri to prevent four-wheel-drive vehicles getting through.

Mr Patterson said it was a legal public road and vehicle users traditionally had access. The road was vested in the Waitaki District Council and DoC had no right to block it, he said.

He was unbowed by the minister's outburst.

"We pulled their nose a bit. It's up to them now," he said. "We had to do something positive today."

Mr Carter said he was seeking urgent advice on the legal status of the Ahuriri Road.

He said four-wheel-drive vehicles affected the park's environment, but the department had left an area open to them in an effort to cater to everyone.

Anyone walking, biking or horse-riding could get past the locked gate, he said.

"We are managing the area for everyone, not the exclusive few."