Council seeks Okarito study

Press, 11 June 1979, Page 24

Council seeks Okarito study

Wellington reporter An assertion that parts of the South Okarito forest in South Westland have to be milled to fulfil timber quotas has led the Nature Conservation Council to ask the Minister of Forests (Mr V. S. Young) for a full investigation. The council has also asked Mr Young to investigate an assertion by the Native Forests Action Council that such milling is not required. The approach to Mr Young came after a meeting, convened in Wellington by the Nature Con- ; servation Council, of nine interested national groups. A recommendation was ' made that no milling be I permitted at south Okarito until the investigations are completed. The Nature Con-

servation Council wants the results of the investigations to be made public. Of the recent announcement that the National Parks Authority would not recommend national-park status for the Paparoa region, the council said it realised that State forest management plans would be available for public comment. But it will investigate other ways of ensuring that adequate reservations are made for protection and balanced-use proposals. This applies particularly to areas in the Paparoa region which did not have permanent protection as well as to other areas in the North Island and the South Island which do not have permanent reservation.