25 Feb 2005

Does your land have access value?

The Government has decided to embrace the Queen's Chain ethos, which would see walking access would be extended along water ways with access value throughout the country, including areas of special significance on Maori Land.

Cabinet has endorsed a three-year programme which would see a new access agency clearly set out legal access where it currently exists and negotiate walking access across private property where there is none now.

The Government has promised to carry out extensive consultation to decide what areas have access value and there will be a range of exclusions for access where they are justified. Maori should be considering whether they have wahi tapu such as old kaika sites or urupa on their land, which may provide justified exclusion for access.

The new access will be for walkers only with the Government enforcing 5-metre access ways alongside all significant lakes and rivers. There is no automatic right of access across private land. The Government will have to negotiate access arrangement by facilitating negotiated solutions to cross private property. The Government intends to introduce a bill into the House mid next year to enact its recommendations. See the following link: Press Release