Draft National Strategy on Walking Access

New! 2 October 2009

Click here to view RWNZ's Press Release - "National Strategy on Walking Access on Track "

Walking Access Commission Stakeholder Consultation meeting 30 July 2009

This meeting was attended by Liz Evans, Region 3 National Councillor and Land Use Committee, on behalf of RWNZ.

RWNZ's comments on Draft National Strategy on Walking Access:

• Rural Women New Zealand  thanks the Walking Access Commission for its on-going commitment to private property and landowner rights and consideration of rural communities’ and families’ security concerns.
• Rural Women New Zealand  asks the Commission for a definitive clarification of their mandate over and above the term “Walking Access” . Although Walking Access is the title of the Commission, and that of  publications so far, we see increasing references to  access to be facilitated for  motor vehicles, bicycles,  motor bikes, kayaks, helicopters.  This, accompanied by  other  specific  “recreational” activities such as fishing, hunting, mountain climbing,dog walking, horse riding, and picnic fire-lighting, gives an impression that, in fact, the mandate of the Commission  goes far beyond walking.
• Our members need to know how  private landowner rights will be protected when demand is made  by  public wishing to  cross their private property to access and use  unformed legal roads, especially by  means other than walking.

• Rural Women New Zealand supports the concept that a system of local  Commission representatives or contacts be developed. This could allow  regional communities to  find their own solutions (under the supervision of the Commission) to access issues and facilitate mapping, signage, applicable regulations and general information to be shared.
• However, we also ask that, in more remote rural areas, landowners, or resident managers, should be the first point of contact for those unsure of access.

RWNZ Comments on Draft Outdoor Access Code

• We congratulate the Commission on producing a comprehensive and inclusive draft Outdoor Access Code.
• We agree that this particular code should be aimed at the general public, casual recreational users and tourists, and that its content should therefore be kept concise,  easy to read and understandable. However, as above,  we  question the inclusion of  information on guns, dogs and motor vehicles in a document advising of, and promoting, walking access.
• If this subject matter is to be retained, Rural Women New Zealand suggests that details be given of legal requirements pertaining to  the need for  firearms licenses  and fishing licences  to be carried by those intending to hunt and fish. Also,  any permit requirements regulated by DoC.
• While we acknowledge that this information  will be familiar to those belonging to  recreational clubs, hunting  groups and tourism operators, the casual visitor may not be aware.
• Dogs:   Similarly, we ask that an alert be included regarding the  health status requirements of visiting (registered) dogs, especially urban-based  companion dogs whose owners  may not be aware of  the cause and spread of sheep measles (or false hydatids caused by exposure to Taenia ovis). Many  sheep farms are now required to display “Restricted Dog Entry” signs   due to infection spread by un-treated dogs (for tapeworm).  An outbreak of sheep measles has significant financial impact on the price paid for  animals killed at the meat processors. 
• Rural Women New Zealand agrees with the request that non-Maori “relationships with the land” concepts  be recorded in the Code.
• We draw to your attention the Department of Labour’s now up-dated pamphlet:

Further information

If Visitors to My Farm are Injured - Am I Liable?  This publication can be viewed at:  www.osh.govt.nz/publications/factsheets/farm-visitors.html