Three More Tenure Reviews Settled

13 October 2004

Canterbury and Otago trampers and the public will have formal access to high country land at Dalrachney, Rhoboro Downs and Double Hill after three tenure reviews were recently completed and title issued to leaseholders.

The settlements give leaseholders freehold ownership of 13,000 hectares of land and add a further 10,500 hectares of high country to the conservation estate:

• at Dalrachney, 2,594 hectares of land added to the Conservation estate provides a further extension to the existing Lindis Pass Scenic Reserve. This exceptional area is highly visible from the main tourist route to the Southern Lakes and is one of the few tall tussock areas remaining adjacent to a public highway. The area facilitates increased public access opportunities from the highway along the range. The review also provides for a public access through the Conservation Area along Smiths Creek and to up to the Lindis River
• at Rhoboro Downs, two public access easements through the property will increase access opportunities to the Ben Ohau Range Conservation Area . The 3000 hectares going into the Conservation Estate from the Rhoboro Downs lease will  provide linkages to other Conservation areas including the Ben Ohau range, and provides excellent opportunities for use by mountain-bikers and trampers to experience the south island high country . A short access route also leads to Lake Pukaki
• at Double Hill Station, up the Rakaia Gorge, almost 5000 hectares of land added to the Conservation Estate. Public access easements across various parts of the lower land freeholded through the review will provide access to the Conservation Areas and the various parts of Double Hill Stream, as well as to the Rakaia River.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is progressively signposting the new conservation areas and marking out access to the land.

Land Information New Zealand Manager, Crown Property, Paul Jackson says Tenure Review has delivered results for the three 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 three properties they have never had formal access to before."

Eleven properties have now finished Tenure Review under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998: Dalrachney; Rhoboro Downs; Double Hill; Ben Avon; Alphaburn; Glen Nevis; Mt Pisa I and II; Quailburn; Clayton; Ben Ohau.

Leaseholders of a further 19 properties have accepted final proposals for their leasehold land at  Eastburn, Waitiri, Peak Hill, Cairnhill, The Knobbies, Glenlapa, Otamatapaio, Merrivale, Geordie Hills, Long Acre, Nine Mile, Shirlmar, Timburn, Raglan Run, West Wanaka, Dome Hills (2 leases), Glen Dhu and Stonehurst.

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 19 leases for which final proposals have been accepted, a further 19 proposals are in their final stages of development.

LINZ has also recently accepted invitations for 21 leases from leaseholders to enter Tenure Review. Two-thirds of the 304 leases eligible for Tenure Review have either completed the process or are in the process.

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: 03 371 3726
FAX: 03 365 1388
CELL: 027 4415 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