Five more tenure reviews settled

3 March 2005

Land Information New Zealand has successfully completed tenure review on a further five high country stations. These settlements give leaseholders freehold ownership of 13,260 hectares of land, and add a further 3,718 hectares of high country to public conservation lands.

The reviews of Cairnhill, The Knobbies, Dome Hill (two properties) and Peak Hill Stations increase formal public access to the high country.

• At Cairnhill and The Knobbies in Otago, 1728 hectares has been added to public conservation lands. This new conservation area joins up with the existing Manorburn Conservation Area: the public will be able to access it via a legal road. Red tussock will be protected in the new conservation area. In the past the area available for red tussock has been greatly reduced in Otago. More land has now been set aside for the tussock to grow
  
  
• At Dome Hills in Otago, 1330 hectares has been added to public conservation lands, linking up with existing land along the Kakanui range. The range crest has extensive views; this area of Otago is home to New Zealand's falcon, a category B threatened species.
  
  
• At Peak Hill in Canterbury, 590 hectares has been added to public conservation lands. Trampers will now have a commanding view from the top of Peak Hill across Lake Coleridge to the Rakaia River catchment. The Department of Conservation is erecting interpretation panels on the top to explain the views and landforms. Access is also available along part of the ridge leading to Mt Oakden. An excellent day walk will now be possible, to the top of Peak Hill and along the ridge beyond it. The shrublands and tussock grasslands will be protected as part of this tenure review.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is progressively signposting the new conservation areas and marking out access to the land. Public access to the conservation areas is not available until DOC signs are put in place.

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

"Leaseholder farmers who have never owned their land freehold get freehold title to part of it," he says. "Public conservation lands are increased, giving the public access to some iconic New Zealand scenery and conservation areas."

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

Leaseholders of a further 15 properties have accepted final proposals for their leasehold land at Eastburn, Waitiri, Glenlapa, Otamatapaio, Merrivale, Geordie Hills, Long Acre, Nine Mile, Shirlmar, Timburn, Raglan Run, West Wanaka, Glen Dhu and Stonehurst and Mataura Valley.

In addition to the 15 leases for which final proposals have been accepted, a further 23 proposals are in their final stages of development.

For further information please contact:

Paul Jackson
Manager, Crown Property
Land Information New Zealand
Private 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
Private 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
EMAIL: nvallance@doc.govt.nz

Leanne Scott / Sarah Mankelow
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