Property Rights Petition Launched
Wednesday 15 Oct 2003 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Rural
ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff last night offered landowners an opportunity to speak out against
further property rights abuse, by launching his petition, at the Government-organised meeting in Cromwell, to promote
public access to private land.
"Labour's feeble attempts to consult with landowners on the findings of the Land Access Ministerial Reference Group's
report have been nothing short of a sham. The report offers little more than a platform for Labour to launch an all out
assault on New Zealanders' property rights," Mr Eckhoff said.
"My petition will seek to protect the sanctity of property rights. It demands that, under no circumstances, should the
Government legislate for public access to private land without compensation, and that it upholds the sanctity of the
traditional and cultural private property rights of all New Zealanders.
"This is one of the most important issues that we - especially farmers - have ever faced. That is why I'm hopeful that
my petition will be as successful as my flatulence tax petition, which attracted the support of 60,000 people from both
urban and rural New Zealand.
"It is clear that Labour has targeted outdoor recreational groups as a potential voting bloc for the next election. Its
actions show it is determined to lock in this vote by removing the rights of landowners and giving them to this
grouping.
"I believe Labour is determined to further erode the rights of all New Zealanders. Its attempts must be resisted at
every turn by anyone who believes in the sanctity of private property rights - I urge all New Zealanders to sign my
petition and send a strong message to the Labour Government," Mr Eckhoff said.
* A copy of the petition can be found at: http://www.act.org.nz/action/propertyrightspetition.pdf
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.