Outdoor recreationists join opposition to rural access laws

The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations is the latest to oppose Government plans to give walkers access rights alongside major rivers.

The Government's planned legislation did not truly extend the Queen's Chain as the Labour Party promised in its 1999 election policy and was primarily aimed only at 150,000 walking freshwater anglers, council spokesman Hugh Barr said.

He claimed interests of more than one million outdoor recreationists -- including hunters, mountainbikers, dog owners and drivers -- represented by the council were being ignored.

"So the Government's proposals have little support or active opposition outside Fish and Game (New Zealand) circles," he said.

The Government says its rural access policy is based on the principal that people should have access to their commonly owned waterways.

Federated Farmers last week called on its 18,000 members to shut out the public and tie an orange ribbon to their front gates as part of a week-long protest beginning on Thursday.

The federation has also indicated it would present a petition, which already has 25,000 signatures, to Parliament on June 23.

However, moves to lock farm gates have been criticised by Fish and Game New Zealand as "arrogant, selfish and anti-Kiwi".

Dr Barr said the proposed 5m-wide "footways" may not work as they could be closed for more than 30 per cent of the year, or blocked by fences and other obstacles.

"We see the best solution as a return to public ownership, negotiation and better access information," he said in a statement. "This would be fair to both landowners and all recreationists."

The council's solution involved the establishment of an independent public access commissioner and a public access enhancement fund, he said.

"The Government must think again about why its worthy access intentions have met so much opposition. It needs to return to broader-based and proven alternatives, not footways," Dr Barr said.

- NZPA