Rumours rife on Govt’s land access plans
National Party Agriculture spokesman David Carter says rumours are rife that Labour’s plans for land access are set to
go before Cabinet tomorrow.
Mr Carter understands the policy amounts to ‘right to roam’ along waterways on all private land, but with exemptions for
some owners.
“Farmers have provided excellent public access for more than 150 years. This nonsense will destroy the goodwill between
farmers and the public.
“The common practice of people asking farmers for permission to go onto their land has worked well. Farmers can then
warn them about any dangers, and farmers can protect themselves from vandalism, theft, harm to livestock, and OSH
regulations.
“Most importantly, it lets farmers deny access to people who concern them. Sadly, we are now seeing farmers resorting to
violence to protect themselves from trespassers.
“Labour’s policy strengthens the rights of those criminals and puts farmers’ safety and their livelihoods at risk,” says
Mr Carter.