High Country Conference Reports 2007/2008
Annual Report - 9 June 2007
We began the year with a few new faces on the Committee. Chairman Ben Todhunter stepped down after completing his term in office and Donald Aubrey was elected to take over as Chairman. Will Murray took over as the South Canterbury representative and joined other newcomers Jonathon Wallis who picked up the reins from Richard Burdon as he took on the challenge of Otago Provincial President, and Jim Ward who took over from Rick King as the Marlborough representative.
We are very grateful for the many years of service that Ben, Richard and Rick have given to this section and also to Will, Jonathon and Jim for so readily taking over - and as usual there has been plenty to keep them occupied.
Your committee has been active with a variety of issues during the past year - several of which appear to be repeated annually.
The major event, of course, was the eventual release of the "Armstrong Report" on valuation methodology and the Government's response to it, through Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).
As you will know, the response from LINZ was to seize on one comment in the report and to claim values such as locality to markets, amenities and the so-called "x factor" of views and other attractions as part of the lessor's interest in the land. Further (signalled) consultation or discussion on submissions seems to have disappeared in the Department's haste to implement its own interpretation.
A cynic's view could be that this is orchestrated to provide a different angle from which to achieve Government public access objectives in exchange for rental relief or offering softer tenure Review settlements.
This committee is totally focussed on achieving an outcome that brings "fair" (and remember that this is the Government's terminology) rentals to those who want to remain with a pastoral lease and "fair" outcomes for those undergoing Tenure Review. This committee is fully supportive, and appreciative, of the work which the High Country Accord Trust is doing in this area.
Tenure Review
Our Chairman regularly attends meetings as a member of the Tenure Review Advisory Group. In the past this has provided us with an important forum for both LINZ and lessee representative groups to try and work out solutions relating to the tenure review process. Recently, however, the value of these meetings has been drawn into question by what appears to be an increasing reluctance of Government to enter into meaningful dialogue with lessee representatives.
This was exemplified by LINZ's prolonged retention of the "Armstrong Report" followed by an unseemly haste to implement the Government's single and narrow interpretation of the report, after release, without consultation on the many submissions it received.
This reaction by Government appears to have slowed down the Tenure Review progress in recent months - however some settlements have been reached over the year in review.
As at 30 April 2007 the status was:
- Review Complete/Lease Disposal Effected 45
- Substantive Proposals Accepted by Lessee 14
- Substantive Proposals Put to Lessee (not yet accepted) 0
- Preliminary Proposals Advertised 21
- Consultation with Lessee for Preliminary Purposes 74
- Information Gathering for Preliminary Proposal 39
- Not in Tenure Review 111
In all 46% of the total area on properties where agreement has been reached has been retained in full Crown ownership and control. This figure includes Birchwood.
Submissions
During the year SIHC made a number of submissions. Most significant among these were the submission supporting the continued use of 1080; support for the retention of the Mt Ida grazing licence; Canada Goose Control and a response to the Government response to the Valuation Methodology report.
Our submissions on 1080 and Canada Goose Control (Part of a Department of Conservation review of Level of Protection for Some New Zealand Wildlife) supported more substantial submissions from Federated Farmers NZ from the High Country perspective.
We stated that 1080 was currently the one substance that can be used for control of both the primary targets identified in the application, as well as by-kill pests including rodents and mustelids. Having such a tool available was essential from the environmental and economic perspectives.
The submission to DoC requested "Immediate action be taken by Fish and Game to reduce the population in the five Fish and Game regions (within the SI Control area) to 20 000 birds or fewer by May 1, 2008". Failing this Federated Farmers requested that Canada Geese be moved to Schedule 5 for the entire South Island.
Our submissions on the Mt.Ida P.O.L. and the Government response to the Armstrong Report pulled no punches. It is probably indicative of the present taciturn attitude of some Government representatives that we have received no formal response to either of these submissions.
Sustainable Farming Fund
SIHC is involved in two SFF projects. One involves a study of the sustainability of High Country Faming. This is led by David Norton of the University of Canterbury. The other project is aimed at developing knowledge of methods of wilding tree management and control, led by Collier Isaacs (Landcorp) and Nick Ledgard (University of Canterbury). Updates on both these projects are included in your conference programme.
Committee
Your committee has met three times in the past 12 months, and there have been two meetings of the Executive Committee. The mid-year meeting was hosted by North Canterbury and included a field day held in conjunction with local branches that focussed on wilding trees and weed control. The High Country biennial field day was held at Treble Cone and our thanks go to Committee member Jonathon Wallis and the Otago Lakes team for organising another successful programme.
Graham Reed
