7 March 2007

Access report leaves questions unanswered - Greens

The Green Party has greeted the long-awaited Public Access report with caution saying it appears to have failed to deliver the certainty it was designed to do.

The purpose of the report was to address how New Zealanders might have walking access to the great outdoors that is free, certain, enduring and practical, Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.

"Public access is an essential part of the New Zealand identity. We need clear indications as to the nature of the Queen's Chain and the rights of access to public land and waterways. The report goes some way towards addressing this but not far enough," Mrs Turei says.

"We agree that an Access Agency could be used to manage the negotiations with landowners and the details around access. Negotiated agreements are always the best first approach.

"But what if the negotiations are not effective? The report does not clearly describe how the balance between landowners' rights to exclude the public and the public's right to access should be weighed when negotiations fail. This leaves the agency and therefore the public on the back foot," Mrs Turei said.

"Given this process, the recommended review period for the agency of 10 years is far too long. A review must occur within at least five years to make sure that the process works and there is progress.

"The panel also suggests that a fund for access is established but should the taxpayer be paying for the rights of public access, given the costs of the agency, the education and mapping material and the costs of the conducting any negotiation? How much should the public be expected to pay?

"The negotiation process involving the High Country has shown how easily such agencies can trade off public and ecological benefits for quick solutions that significantly advantage the landowner. We cannot simply have a repeat of that same failure when dealing with public access," Mrs Turei says.

ENDS

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