Walter Peak Station Under Special Lease

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32381, 21 August 1970, Page 12

Walter Peak Station Under Special Lease

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 20. 1 The company leasing Walter Peak Station does not have a “tourist lease,” but a special lease under section 67 (2) of the Land Act, 1948, for a term of 30 years from July 1, 1969, perpetually renewable but with no right of acquiring the freehold.

The Minister of Lands (Mr Maclntyre) gave this information in a written reply to questions posed by Mr P. Blanchfield (Lab., Westland).

“There are special conditions relating to the ownership and transfer of shares,” Mr Maclntyre explained. “The lease contains all the provisions of the Land Act, 1948, relating specifically to pastoral lands, including a limitation in stock number's.

“Although this lease also allows the company to engage in tourist activities in asso-

elation with its freehold land no improvements on the land for tourist purposes can be commenced. The lease is registered in the Land Registry Office at Invercargill, and the full terms are available to anyone who may wish to search it.

“As stated publicly on other occasions the consent of the Government is not required to the residential subdivision which is to take place on freehold land and not on Crown leasehold.

The normal processes of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1953, are being followed by the Lake County Council, whose consent is required under the Counties Act, 1956, to any scheme of subdivision. “Walter Peak Station comprises 1342 acres of freehold land and 59,500 acres of leasehold. The ground rental is not calculated on a peracre basis as suggested, but on a stock-carrying, capacity basis in line with all highcountry pastoral runs.