Three More Tenure Reviews Settled

16 January 2004

Canterbury and Otago trampers and the public will have formal access to high country land at Clayton, Quailburn and Mt. Pisa Stations after three tenure reviews were recently settled.

More than 10,000  hectares of high country land, including 70 percent (more than 5,000 hectares) of Quailburn Station is now part of the conservation estate. The Department of Conservation (DOC) is talking to the farmers involved to discuss details of how to set up public access.

Leaseholders at Clayton, Quailburn and Mt. Pisa (two properties) now have freehold title to part of their land.

Land Information New Zealand Manager, Crown Property, Paul Jackson says Tenure Review has delivered results for the four properties.

"Leaseholder farmers who have never owned their land freehold get freehold title to part of it, the public conservation estate is increased and the public gets access to land on the four properties they have never had formal access to before."

Quailburn Station in particular has been of special interest to conservation and recreation groups. The Quailburn block stretches from the Ahuriri River in the west over a low saddle of the Ohau range to Quailburn Road in the east.

It had not been grazed for two years, and contains a wide diversity of vegetation including remnants of mountain beech, tall tussocks, snow totara and dwarf mistletoe. The mountain tarns and streams are inhabited by native fish and there are a number of threatened bird, insect and plant species.

The settlement of Quailburn, Clayton and Mt. Pisa brings the number of tenure reviews to be implemented under the Crown Pastoral Land Act, 1998 to four, following Ben Ohau Station in August, 2003.

A further 11 leaseholders have accepted final proposals for their leasehold land at  Glen Nevis, Eastburn, Waitiri, Alphaburn , Rhoboro Downs, Ben Avon, Cairnhill, The Knobbies, Dalrachney, Double Hill and Peak Hill.

Public access to the conservation areas is not available until implementation (survey, fencing of the land, final settlement) is complete and DOC signs are put in place.

In addition to the 16 final proposals that have been accepted, a further 13 proposals are in their final stages. Eight leaseholders are considering their final proposals. Final proposals for leaseholders in five other tenure reviews are almost ready to be 'put' to the leaseholders.

For further information please contact:

Paul Jackson
Manager, Crown Property
Land Information New Zealand  
PO Box 5501
WELLINGTON
PH: 04 460 0158
FAX: 04 460 0590
CELL: 027 249 1258
EMAIL: pjackson@linz.govt.nz

LINZ media liaison:

Michael Mead 
Senior Communications Adviser       
Land Information New Zealand   
PO Box 5501
WELLINGTON
PH: (04) 498 3516
FAX: (04) 472 1864
CELL: 027 444 3901
EMAIL: mmead@linz.govt.nz

Department of Conservation

Mike Clare
Tenure Review Manager
Department of Conservation
Canterbury Conservancy
Private Bag 4715
Christchurch
PH: 03 379 9758
FAX: 03 365 1388
CELL: 025 415 632
EMAIL: mclare@doc.govt.nz

Department of Conservation media liaison:

Nicola Vallance
Community Relations Officer, media
Otago Conservancy
PH: (03) 474 6905
CELL: 027 2222 735
nvallance@doc.govt.nz

Community Relations Officer, media
Canterbury Conservancy
PH: (03) 379 9758
CELL: 025 643 8881

Federated Farmers media liaison

Bob Douglas
Secretary, South Island High Country Committee
Farming House
PO Box 665
Timaru
PH: (0800) 327-646.
FAX: (03) 688-4096.
HM TEL/FAX:  (03) 686-4762.
MOBILE:  021 622 822
Email: southcanterbury.ff@fedfarm.org.nz

Conservation benefits

Tenure Review delivers a range of conservation and other benefits to the New Zealand public. Each review has particular points of interest:

CANTERBURY

Ben Avon

Lease Area: 8,300 hectares

Outcomes

4,804 hectares of public conservation land consisting of;

  • 4,729 hectares Conservation Area, including the high tops above the AhuririValley and the upper part of the DingleburnValley. Beech forest, tussock grassland and alpine vegetation are protected. This area allows for a wide range of recreation activities and will eventually provide links to other areas.
  • 75 hectares Scenic Reserve which will enhance the existing protected wetlands alongside the AhuririRiver. These wetland remnants are relatively intact, and their protection will enhance the area, increasing the wetland habitat for a number of important wetland species.
  • Two covenants under the Reserves Act will be placed over land to be freeholded; one covering approximately 200 hectares over tussock grasslands on the Puke Makiriri Range, another covering about 71 hectares of kettle holes and wetlands.
  • Three public access easements will allow for access to the Conservation Area, Scenic Reserve, and to the AhuririRiver.

Clayton

Lease Area: 4,243 ha
Freehold to leaseholder: 2422 ha

Outcomes
  • 971 ha to become public conservation land on the lower slopes of the Ben McLeod Range. This will protect low altitude red tussock, shrublands and tall tussock on the lower slopes of the range. The area compliments an existing red tussock reserve that was protected as a landholder initiative some years ago.
  • Public access is provided for along a 4WD track from the FoxesPeak public ski field road.

Dalrachney

Lease Area: 7,965 hectares
Freehold to leaseholder: 5372 ha

Outcomes
  • 2,594 hectares of Conservation Area extends the existing Lindis Pass Scenic Reserve further along the range. This area is highly visible from the main tourist route to the Southern Lakes and is one of the few tall tussock areas remaining next to a public highway. The area will allow good public access from the highway along the range.
  • One public access easement for access passes through the Conservation Area along Smiths Creek and to the LindisRiver. This easement will eventually provide for round trips along farm tracks to the AhuririValley.

Double Hill

Lease Area: 7,810 hectares
Freehold to leaseholder: 2913 ha

Outcomes

4,897 hectares to become public conservation land consisting of:

  • 4685 hectares asConservation Area, covering the upper catchments of Double Hill, Glenariffe and Colonel Streams, the high altitude north-facing slopes of the Palmer Range around to and including Turtons Saddle, and the lower, west-facing slopes of Mt Catherine. This protects beech forest and shrublands in gullies, as well as tussock and high alpine tops. This is a popular recreation area for tramping, hunting, climbing and skiing.
  • Several smaller Conservation Areas varying in size, totalling 212 hectares,protect the following areas and values;
  • Shrubland remnants on the south facing slopes of the notch on Double Hill
  • The wetland at the mouth of the notch on Double Hill
  • The wetland in the Glenariffe Stream area
  • The main spring-fed tributary of the Double Hill Stream and the associated wetlands
  • Public access easements across various parts of the property will provide public access to the Conservation Areas and the various parts of Double Hill Stream, as well as to the RakaiaRiver.

Peak Hill

Lease Area: 1,747 hectares

Outcomes
  • 590 hectares will become Conservation Area, containing the dominant Peak Hill, a distinctive sugarloaf of hard greywacke with commanding views across Lake Coleridge and the Rakaia River Catchment. This area extends from the shores of LakeColeridge to Peak Hill and is predominately open tussock land with a few areas of shrubland and remnants of broadleaved species.
  • Two access easements allow access to the Conservation Area and the shores of LakeColeridge as well as along part of the ridge leading to Mt Oakden

Quailburn

Lease Area: 7,413 hectares

Outcomes

5,278 hectares to become public conservation land consisting of;

  • 4,876 hectares Conservation Area, stretching from the AhuririRiver in the west, to Quailburn in the east. This area contains a segment of the east branch of the AhuririRiver with several tributaries and alpine tarns, and includes one of only a few mountain beech remnants, representative of the dry MacKenzieBasin. This block forms an important part of the significant landscape of the UpperAhuririValley and also the Ohau area. Public access to this area is available from the Ribbonwood Road.
  • 402 hectares Conservation Area, containing a very extensive wetland system made up of a series of small tarns or kettle holes on out-washed gravels. It includes widespread, diverse turf communities, with a good representation of native plants including two threatened species; a sedge Isolepisbasilaris, and dwarf woodrush Luzulacelata. It is an important feeding area for the threatened black stilt / kaki, wrybill / ngutuparore and black fronted tern /tara.One public access easement will allow for access through the property, to reach this new Conservation Area

Rhoboro Downs 

Lease Area: 7,626 hectares

Outcomes
  • 3,000 hectares to become Conservation Area on the BenOhauRange protects the biodiversity of the range, which includes alpine tops, screes and tussock grasslands, as well as shrubland at lower altitudes.
  • Two public access easements through the property will give access to the Ben Ohau Range Conservation Area. This will provide linkages to other areas as well as the ranger, for use by mountain-bikers and trampers. A short access route leads to LakePukaki.

For more information about Canterbury stations, contact the Department of Conservation, Canterbury Conservancy, Private Bag 4715, Christchurch, phone 03 379 9758.

OTAGO 

Alphaburn

Lease area: 4,470ha

Outcomes
  • 1124 ha of public conservation land consisting of;
  • 1095 ha Conservation Area
  • 6 ha Recreation Reserve
  • 23 ha Wildlife Management Reserve
  • 125 ha Conservation Area with grazing concession
  • Reserves Act Conservation Covenants placed over two areas
  • Two public access easements; one to provide access to the high altitude public conservation land via Waterfall Creek; the other to extend the lakeside track around Damper Bay to Glendhu Bay.
  • Adding these areas to public conservation land will protect the natural landscape character of the Wanaka area, and the district?s landscape integrity. These landscapes range from the high altitude of RoysPeak to a wetland at Scaifes Lagoon and a small remnant of native vegetation on the lakeside reserve.
  • In 1999, six specimens of a new species of gecko were discovered on the summit of MountRoy. This discovery is considered a major (herpetological) find. Oleariahectorii, a category A threatened plant species, has also been protected within the new areas.

Eastburn/Waitiri

Lease area: 11079 ha (two leases)

Outcomes

5221 ha of public conservation land accessible from the Cromwell/Queenstown Highway at Roaring Meg consisting of;

- 5202 ha Conservation Area
- 9 ha Historic Reserve
- 10 ha Recreation Reserve

A public access easement to Mt Colin, and the Crown Range Highway (the Wakatipu Basin Wanaka road bisects the Conservation Area)

These areas are important for recreation within a setting of high natural value, with good access along state highway 89. The vegetation ranges from tall tussock grasslands to cushion field on the tops; not many state highways pass though tall snow tussock grassland.

Glen Nevis

Lease area: 6673 ha

Outcomes

4474 ha to become public conservation land;

- 6 ha on the Wakatipu Tributory to protect the native fish, koaro

- 4468 ha of the Hector Mountains to the Nevis River

A conservation covenant over the west side upper lake faces, to HectorMountains ridge crest.

A public access easement from the end of Glen Nevis Road to the summit of Hector Mountains. There is formed legal road in the Nevis Valley which provides 4WD access to the new conservation area.

This area contains some outstanding remote landscape values and glaciated landforms (cirque basins). The plant life varies from alpine cushion fields, snow tussock grasslands and shrublands, to valley floor wetlands and red tussock grasslands.

It is home to several threatened plant species, three threatened invertebrate species, and the Nevis River galaxiid  a native fish only found here. The Nevis area features evidence of a long history of gold mining, and the Remarkables and Nevis Valley are very popular recreation areas.

Mt Pisa I +II

Lease area: 8901 ha (two leases)

Outcomes
  • 4367 ha of public conservation land, consisting of;
  • 2015 ha Conservation Area (no grazing)
  • 2352 ha Conservation Area (with a grazing concession for six years)
  • A public vehicle easement
  • A public foot access easement from Cromwell - Wanaka Highway to the Conservation Area on the summit.
  • A landscape protection covenant from the Conservation Area lower boundary downhill to the 900m contour.

This expansive southern landscape with its spectacular tors contains some of the best ecological values on the PisaRange. It contains high altitude cushion fields and mixed tussock grasslands of the Skeleton and Mitre Creeks, and remnants of slim-leaved snow tussock, Chionochloamacra, in the gullies below Mount Dotterel. These new areas border the existing Pisa Conservation Area, creating a continuous area of protected land across the PisaRange, with high ecological, landscape and recreational values.


The Knobbies/Cairnhill

Lease area: 7815 ha (two leases)

  • 1728 ha conservation area

The new conservation area adjoins the existing Manorburn Conservation Area, and has a legal road that is well formed and suitable for 2WD vehicles in dry weather.

The Onslow Block which lies in the headwaters of the North Branch of the Teviot River between the Manorburn Conservation Area and the Lake Onslow Road contains a large expanse of rolling red tussock grasslands and wetland areas, dissected by a complex array of shallow water courses.

The head of Campbells Creek represents one of the most healthy red tussock land remnants on the Manorburn Plateau.

For more information about Otago Stations, contact the Department of Conservation, Otago Conservancy, P O Box 5244, Dunedin, phone 03 3 477 0677.

Tenure Review process

Tenure review is a complex process, which;

  • improves public access to the high country; Tenure Review can formalise and enhance public access. Leaseholder land is private property. Many leaseholders allow access onto pastoral lease land, but the public must ensure they have the leaseholder’s permission
  • enables leaseholders to gain freehold title of high country land (except in those cases where all the land is proposed for conservation)
  • protects or retains high country land with ‘significant inherent values’ (eg land with historic, scientific, ecological and cultural characteristics) in Crown ownership and control. The land is then managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Each tenure review of a particular lease follows the same process. The usual result is that some land is transferred to DOC management, and some land is freeholded by the leaseholder.

The Tenure Review process is a team effort. It is voluntary and consultative, involving DOC, Fish and Game, Tangata Whenua, the leaseholder, other outdoor organisations and the public. LINZ manages the process, making sure it is followed correctly and that the information is available to all parties for the right outcome to occur.

Leaseholder property rights

Leaseholders have extensive property rights over leasehold land. A Crown pastoral lease gives the leaseholder the exclusive right to farm the land for 33 years with a perpetual right of renewal. Under a pastoral lease, leaseholders are subject to a range of restrictions on what they can do with the land: leases only allow grazing of the land for pastoral farming purposes. Leaseholders own any 'improvements' they make to the land (buildings, fences etc). Rental is based on the 'unimproved value' of the land.

Access to leasehold land by the public is by permission of the leaseholder. Under the Property Law Act, leaseholders are entitled to 'quiet enjoyment' of leasehold land. The farmer can sell their leasehold interest in the land (the remaining term of the lease) to another party, if they wish but they must obtain LINZ consent.

More information

More information on LINZs Tenure Review programme is available on the LINZ site on the Crown Property/High Country Leases pages at www.linz.govt.nz (go straight to the information by clicking on the Find out about tenure review link on the LINZ home page):

On the LINZ website you can:

Media enquiries: Media Enquiries, Land Information New Zealand, phone +64 4 460 0110, email
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