Back-country access problem

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32613, 22 May 1971, Page 18

Back-country access problem

Progress on problems of access to the mountainous back country of New Zealand appear to be frustratingly slow.

The president of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand (Mr R. W. Burrell) says this in his report to be presented at the annual general meeting of the federation on May 30. There is no doubt that the solution in many cases will not be easy, he adds.

The executive of the clubs is continuing to negotiate with the Government on the question of access, Mr Burrell says. The old-style goodwill between runholders and mountain club members seems to be changing as the philo-

sophy of station management seeks to make greater use of tourist potential, he says. “Access is being denied to members of clubs even though, in many cases, this right exists as an undefined ‘paper’ road. "The problem has been accentuated by the new Trespass Bill, which can be applied pending actual definition of legal access. In a

t deputation to the Minister of f Lands, the executive was assured of every assistance by > the Department of Lands in i finding a solution to this s question, and clubs have i been requested to . define specific areas. These have • been notified as the Poronui • Erewhon, Ben McLeod and ■ Lillybank stations,” says Mr • Burrell in the report. i Disposal of Crown land

under pastoral-occupational licences has also been discussed by the club’s executive, he says. There is no right to mountain country beyond land so leased, and while it is recognised that Crown land itself does not imply access by right, such access is rarely denied under Crown ownership. “Before Crown land is leased or sold, the federation considers that, greater consideration should be given to its retention as a reserve and the provision of legal access be safeguarded to Crown land beyond,” says Mr Burrell. Conservation unity The question of unity among conservation interests has concerned the executive and the concept of an Environmental Information Foundation has been suggested as a means of providing conservation information to the many organisations and societies concerned with the environment, he says. Details of the proposal are at present being circulated to interested organisations for their comment. As at March 31, 1970, the federation consisted of 97 clubs. Ninety-two clubs with a total membership of 15,865 had paid their subscriptions for the 1970-71 year.