Access Over Farm Land
Many of our members will be directly affected by legislation that seeks to improve public access to the outdoors. Recent government proposals have included taking a strip of land along the banks of major waterways to complete the Queen's Chain.
It is common sense that landholders retain the right to determine who has access across their land. Public access often impacts on the running of the farm business and risks the health and safety of both the public and farmed livestock.
Federated Farmers believes public access across private land should remain a negotiation between the landholder and those wanting access so that the interests of all parties can be respected in an inclusive and user-friendly manner.
Farmers already provide access in the majority of cases. In the minority of cases where access is denied for no good reason, then these conflicts need to be resolved in a calm and measured way.
Walking Access Act
The Walking Access Act was passed by parliament in September 2008, and was the result of a nine-year effort to protect and enhance what the government saw as the legacy of all New Zealanders to enjoy the outdoors.
In essence, the Act establishes a New Zealand Walking Access Commission and invests it with a range of responsibilities and powers relevant to the management and ownership of land in New Zealand.
The Federation is comforted that public access remains subject to negotiation and agreement with the individual landowner. Without this provision the federation would have opposed the legislation.
Still To Be Sorted
An issue which has yet to be sorted centres on paper (legal but unformed) roads, which are an occasional source of dispute between farmers and the recreational public. It is important that the issues around unformed legal roads are addressed in a way that meets everyone's needs, resulting in better access and the ability of landowners to continue to run a business.
Another issue that requires further work is the one of who is appointed as ‘enforcement officers' to police the new requirements of the Act. The Federation questions the notion that every Fish and Game ranger should automatically be made an enforcement officer. Some individual rangers may be fine, but we just want a process that employs the best qualified people.
Federated Farmers will be pursuing these and other matters with the New Zealand Walking Access Commission once the commission is operational.
Spokesman
The Federation spokesperson for access is Donald Aubrey. You can contact him by daubrey@fedfarm.org.nz, or 027 623 7157.
Our policy advisor for access is Jacob Haronga. He can be contacted on 0800 327 646 or jharonga@fedfarm.org.nz.
The Act provides for public access to remain subject to negotiation and agreement with the individual landowner.
