Approval for park given by Minister

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 6

Approval for park given by Minister

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

Approval in principle for New Zealand’s first national park in 21 years — along the Wanganui River has been given by the Minister of Lands, Mr Wetere. Although it is yet to be formally established and named, the new park could cover almost 80,000 ha of reserves, Crown land, and State forests along the Wanganui and the bush-clad country behind it. The proposal for a national park there came from the National Parks and Reserves Authority earlier this year. Mr Wetere said the pro-

posal had received overwhelming support from many sections of the public, from local and regional Government, and from the Wanganui Regional Development Council. It would be the first set up since the Mount Aspiring National Park in 1964. The park would bring into the national park system the largest remaining area of lowland native forest left in the North Island, with a wealth of native birdlife and vegetation.

Of main significance was the Maori interest and perspective, Mr Wetere said. The tribes along the Wanganui River had centuries of

historic, cultural, and spiritual association with the river and area. He would meet their representatives at Taumarunui on December 6 to ensure they were briefed on the proposal. He wanted to discuss with them an appropriate name for the park, traditional fishing rights, claims to the river itself, the setting up of a Maori advisory body, Maori membership of the park board, the taking of metal from the riverbed, and other relevant matters. After these and other discussions, Mr Wetere said it would be possible to move to the formal establishment of the park.