4 May 2012
Good news for High Country with pastoral rent Amendment
After a prolonged battle, including the Minaret case in the Land Valuation Court, New Zealand’s High Country farmers
welcome the passing of Crown Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) Amendment Act in Parliament, clarifying that
pastoral lease farm rents are to be based on pastoral rather than landscape values.
“Federated Farmers asked the government to make the Pastoral Land Act workable and to give certainty around how rents
would be calculated. We are grateful they listened,” Federated Farmers High Country chairperson, Graham Reed says.
“This is not a hand out; it simply means rents are set to reflect High Country farming businesses’ real earning
capacity. This amendment allows us to live and work without the spectre of unfair rises simply because of our farms’
locations. That was certainly the intention behind the use of the word “pastoral” in the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998,
describing the restricted land use on which valuations should be based.
“Since 1948 pastoral leases have been extremely beneficial to the High Country’s sustainability, both land and people.
Having certainty means people are able to invest in the land. It is regrettable so much damage has been done over the
last decade to destroy confidence in the future of pastoral leases.
“The Minaret case should not have been necessary. Previous court actions had clearly identified the rents should be
based on pastoral values. Unfortunately, this intention was clouded by political ideology and outside interest groups’
actions. Their demands for landscape valuations placed a huge amount of pressure on farmers who often regard working in
these remote places as a long family tradition as much as a business.
“Those who called for rents based on the High Country’s rugged beauty ignored farmers’ role in maintaining these
environments so future generations of New Zealanders can enjoy them. High Country farmers spend huge amounts on pest and
weed control each year which has beneficial environmental effects. As a group High Country farmers take enormous pride
in protecting and enhancing their local environments.
“So, this amendment has lifted a huge burden from our minds and will pave the way for a much better relationship between
the High Country and the Crown,” Mr Reed concluded.
ends