Two more tenure reviews settled

5 May 2005

Land Information New Zealand has successfully completed tenure review on a further two high country stations. These settlements give leaseholders freehold ownership of 4,682 hectares of land, and add a further 2,635 hectares of high country to public conservation lands.

The reviews of Stonehurst (Otago) and Glenlapa (Southland) increase formal public access to the high country:

• At Stonehurst, 2070 hectares will become public conservation lands, located on the southern end of the Rock and Pillar Range. The range contains subalpine shrublands, extensive plateau wetlands, snowtussock lands peneplain landform features. Native animal species here include the New Zealand Falcon, giant alpine weta and other notable insect species and native galaxiid fish. A conservation covenant protects shrubland and broadleaf forest communities with a public access easement from the Strath Taieri Plain to the range crest. Formed legal road provides access via the Old Dunstan Road, an historic gold mining route linking Dunedin with the Central Otago Goldfields. The conservation lands will eventually be incorporated into the proposed Rock and Pillar Conservation Park. Former leaseholder John James now owns 775 hectares of high country land. Mr. James' main reason for going through Tenure Review was succession. "Tenure Review suited my purposes. I was able to pass on the land to my son. There are real advantages to Tenure Review and owning your own property freehold."
• At Glenlapa, 565 hectares has been added to public conservation lands. Just on 550 hectares will become an addition to the adjacent East Dome Scenic Reserve and will protect additional beech forests containing, red, silver and mountain beech, montane and subalpine shrublands and snow tussocklands. The protection of this area further enhances the natural setting of the Mataura River, a popular angling river. The balance of the public land (15 hectares) will become the Muddy Gully Historic Reserve, which contains early 20th century goldmining relics in the Waikaia Valley, including tramways, water races and a restored race keeper's hut. Former Glenlapa leaseholder Charlie Smaill now owns 3907 hectares of high country land. Freehold ownership frees up the Smaills to pass on the land to their son. "It's always been my aim. We now have something concrete to pass on. As a leaseholder, it's too uncertain: you don't own the land freehold. We feel really good about the outcome of our tenure review. The negotiations were strong and we got productive land out of the process."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 two 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."

Eighteen properties have now finished Tenure Review under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998: Glenlapa; Stonehurst; 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 17 properties have accepted final proposals for their leasehold land at Eastburn, Waitiri, Otamatapaio, Merrivale, Geordie Hills, Long Acre, Nine Mile, Shirlmar, Timburn, Raglan Run, West Wanaka, Glen Dhu, Mataura Valley, Glenariffe, Glenfoyle, Silverbirch and Omahau Downs.

In addition to the 17 leases for which final proposals have been accepted, a further 18 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