Submission

18th December, 2003

Submission on National Parks Act General Policy

Rural Women New Zealand make this submission in relation to

rural properties bordering national parks. Our submission relates

to the fact that many national parks have a large public visitor

population passing through them. In particular the summer

months is the high season for tourists and general visitors,

which coincides with a time of high fire risk. RWNZ submit that

the National Park Policy should include consultation and

collaboration with neighboring farms in terms of fire fuel

reduction, water reservoirs for fire control in particularly

hazardous areas and fire fighting training for all personnel.

Farmers have in some cases been left to deal with this problem

alone and it is important to avoid fire risk to life and property

collectively.

RWNZ further submit that in areas that are fenced between

national parks and rural properties that boundary fences

damaged by natural disasters such as snow, wind fall trees etc be

repaired with National Parks meeting half the cost of the work.

National Parks receive the benefit of the fence in reduced fire

fuel through grazing and control of domestic animals that it is only

right that this collective approach be considered.


Jo-Anne Stokes
Executive Officer
Rural Women NZ