Land Access: Letter to Primary Production Select Committee

Hon David Carter (Chairperson), Clayton Cosgrove, Hon Harry Duynhoven, Gerrard Eckhoff, Ian Ewen-Street, Phil Heatley, Janet Mackey (Deputy Chairperson), Hon Dover Samuels, Tariana Turia, and R Doug Woolerton.

Dear Members of the Select Committee

Land Access Proposal Document

Rural Women New Zealand wishes to express our deep concern about the closed process by which Land Access legislation is being advanced.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and Hon Jim Sutton's Office note that a document exists detailing the issues surrounding access to river and lake fringes. However, we have been advised that this will not be released for public consultation. Given the strength of opposition against the ‘right to roam' in the submission phase, and the extent to which rural landowners will inevitably be affected by it, we strongly feel that further debate is necessary before the document goes into legislation.

We believe that the importance of the proposed legislation cannot be overstated. This legislation has enormous implications with regard to risk management in the areas of biosecurity, fire prevention, water quality, personal safety and individual property rights. It is imperative that this legislation takes into account practical aspects of these risk management issues to ensure that agricultural and forestry businesses vital to New Zealand 's economy are not unduly compromised.

Rural Women New Zealand is deeply concerned that the closed nature of the process will allow inappropriate and unworkable legislation to be passed. We also believe that by keeping it under wraps, an alarmist response is emerging among rural people that could polarize public opinion and preclude rational debate.

Imposing legislation of this magnitude without the involvement of those it will most affect is undemocratic in the extreme. All we ask for is a fair and open process around its formulation, so that the potential impact on rural families and the economy can be rigorously scrutinised and fully considered.

Rural Women New Zealand does not believe that the objective of public access to public areas will be achieved through legislation. Goodwill has existed towards the public in providing ready access to waterways and other areas of interest. Information as to appropriate access, land owner contacts and seasonal restrictions is needed, rather than heavy handed legislation.

To this end, we ask that the select committee makes the document on Land Access available for further consultation. We ask this from a position of sincere concern, not only for rural families, but for the protection of the land-based economy as a whole.

Yours sincerely,

Sherrill Dackers

National President of Rural Women New Zealand

Rural Women New Zealand