Glenariffe Tenure Review implemented - four more underway

2 December 2005

Around 3,200 hectares of Canterbury's Crown pastoral leasehold land will become available to the public following the implementation of the tenure review for the Glenariffe pastoral lease. Substantive proposals for a further four Mid-Canterbury pastoral leases have been signed by the lessees. When implemented, these reviews will see a further 1,530 hectares become public conservation land and 3,723 hectares passing to freehold ownership.

The implementation of the tenure review for the 4,799-hectare Glenariffe pastoral lease was completed in September, when 1,593 hectares passed to freehold title. The remaining 3,206 hectares will be retained by the Crown as public conservation land.

Linking the Rakaia River valley with the northern headwaters of the Ashburton River, the new public conservation land takes in a small area of swamp, next to the Rakaia River as well as extensive tussock grasslands lands and alpine tops, along with a remnant of mixed hardwood forest above the Double Hill Road.

A marked easement up Glenrock Stream will allow public access for trampers and mountain bikers to Turtons Saddle and Donald Hill, or down to the Ashburton River's headwaters. The review will also enhance angling access to two prime trout streams, with the setting off of marginal strips.

The Glenariffe tenure review adjoins Crown land on Black Hill Range - previously Glenariffe Pastoral Occupation Licence - and the new public conservation area created by a tenure review on the neighbouring Double Hill pastoral lease.

The leaseholders of four other Mid-Canterbury properties have accepted tenure review for their leases. Fencing and surveying have to be completed before the land can be transferred to freehold or become conservation land.

• Mount Alford pastoral lease (878 hectares) is located on the North branch of the Ashburton River. The review for Mount Alford will see 117.5 hectares set aside as public conservation land, with the balance to pass into freehold ownership. The conservation area will provide opportunities for those wishing to explore low-level beech and mid-altitude lands on the fringes of the Canterbury Plains.
• Tenehaun pastoral lease (2835 hectares), adjoins the Rangitata River and Gorge and takes in part of the Moorhouse Range. The tenure review will see 1645 hectares of pastoral farming land passed to freehold ownership, while 1190 hectares will become conservation land. About 15 kilometres of easements are also allowed for in the review, which will open up access to the south branch of the Hinds River, the Rangitata River and some higher altitude land.
• Scotsburn pastoral lease (510 hectares) is on the edge of the Canterbury Plains and borders the Orari River. Scotsburn, will have 67 hectares passed into conservation land, including aquatic habitat for the protected blue duck. The new area will adjoin the existing Scotsburn Bush Reserve, a site of special wildlife interest. Some 442 hectares of Scotsburn is to be freeholded.
• The Gorge (876 hectares) is on the western boundary of the Scotsburn lease. Some 155 hectares of The Gorge is to be retained by the Crown for conservation. This land also links with the Scotsburn Bush Reserve. The bush areas in the new conservation land are home to New Zealand pigeon, South Island pied tit, rifleman, bellbird and brown creeper. Long-tailed bats are also found in the area. The remaining 721 hectares will pass to freehold ownership. The tenure review has also provided for the protection of significant cultural values identified by Ngai Tahu.

Paul Jackson, Land Information New Zealand's Manager Crown Property, says the outcomes of the tenure reviews in Canterbury show that the process is sensitive to a range of needs, including conservation, recreation, cultural and economic considerations.

"By carefully working through the issues unique to each property, discrete areas with high conservation values have been protected and access enhanced, while constraints to the economic development of suitable farmland have been removed," he says.

Tenure review summary

Of the original 304 Crown pastoral leases, 46 have now passed through tenure review. Of these reviews, 25 have so far been fully implemented. (Implementation is considered complete when the necessary surveying and fencing has been completed, conservation land designated for Crown ownership has been passed to DOC, and freehold title has been issued for land designated freehold under the review.) A further 145 pastoral leases are engaged in earlier stages of tenure review.

Tenure review progress as at 17 November 2005	Number of leases	Land to Crown (ha)	Land to Crown (ha)
Tenure review implementation complete	25	51,177	70,605
Final Proposal (substantive proposal) signed off; implementation under way.	21	41,352	67,592

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:

Tanya St George
Strategic Communications Manager
Land Information New Zealand
Private Box 5501
WELLINGTON
PH: 04 498 3844
FAX: 04 472 1864
CELL: 027 287 9403
EMAIL: tstgeorge@linz.govt.nz

Department of Conservation media liaison:

Leanne Scott / Sarah Mankelow
Community Relations Officers
Media
Canterbury Conservancy
PH: 03 379 9758
CELL: 025 643 8881

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

Federated Farmers media liaison:

Bob Douglas
Industry Manager 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
CELL : 021 622 822
EMAIL: southcanterbury.ff@fedfarm.org.nz