|
Trips from Tauranga to Wellington for dog shows were always met with a great sense of frustration when I had three dogs in a hot car passing over a river of cool clear water and NO ACCESS to it, even if it were miles from civilisation!
Unless I were a local resident of probably 25 years standing, one had no idea of how to navigate one’s way off the main highway and down a side road to the swimming hole.
|
And even if I did find a nice spot for a relaxing break, chances are there is a BIG green and white signs saying NO ACCESS, NO DOGS, NO BICYCLES, NO HORSES, NO — generally something else like camping, fires etc.
If you thought all of that may change, take a look at the new Labour ‘outdoor policy’ on Walkways. After 5 years of ‘consultation’ the Labour Government finally presented its Walking Access Bill to Parliament in April. Don’t jump for joy — your rights to enjoy this beautiful country of ours may still be restricted to motoring along the highways.
Walkways date from 1975 and were normally a ‘gift’ of access from a landowner to the public. Restrictions may have been put in place at certain times for example lambing or duck shooting. Unfortunately the Department of Conservation managed to get its hands on the Walkway Rights in 1989 and since then very little in the way of public walkways have been created (approx. 1400km and this was developed mainly where public access already existed). Only 10km per year (snails go faster) of walkways were developed through private land.
The original proposal has been seriously eroded by the directive that the Access Commission is now under the auspices of MAF and the Rural Affairs Minister. This is great news to Federated Farmers who will now have indirect means of controlling / reducing public access to all rural walkways. And a Public Access Enhancement Fund attached to the Commission could more than likely see funds directed to rural landowners for their own agenda.
The new Bill has also introduced draconian methods of walkway-use enforcement (officers lying in wait for the unsuspecting public — adjacent landowners are exempt) and the possibility of huge penalties being copped by the unsuspecting public Jo Bloggs. ($10,000 for being on a walkway when it is closed).
This proposal creates a major conflict of purpose and interest and will seriously jeopardise the right of the public to access the national walkways whether on unformed public roads, Crown-owned access strips or private land.
A family tramping trek could now become 'A Walk On The Wild Side', (unless your hiking / mountaineering mate is a certain P.M).
|
