News
Recreation Access argue for unformed legal roads
February 04, 2010
All going well there will be regular updates from RANZ on outdoor issues throughout 2010.
RANZ now has its own Channel on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/recreationaccessnz
Please bookmark the above and the RANZ web site for future reference
http://www.recreationaccess.org.nz
My
first project for the new decade is a video rebuttal of the opinion of
MAF, and their advisers, that it is not possible to create new unformed
roads over private land. This is a critically important matter for all
outdoor recreationists.
If the resultant official policy, that
in future only easements over private land will be sought for public
access rather than public roads, then the certainty of unhindered
passage over roads could be replaced by much inferior privileges.
Unformed roads are potentially most at risk – all 56,000 km of them –
from extinguishment and realignment of access as easements.
Before
Christmas I challenged the official position at a public meeting with
representatives of the Walking Access Commission. They had no answers
to my criticism, and showed no interest in my offer to brief the
Commission's CEO on the findings of my research or in the papers I
handed to him. So be warned – their policy line is well entrenched –
their political masters will have to be persuaded to intervene. It
appears that, these days, unless you are a mining or other commercial
plunderer of the outdoors, only noise and friction – lots of it – has
any effect on the business of Government.
You and your recreational organisation must take an active interest in this issue and lobby Government, right up to PM level.
Ask the outnumbered recreation members of the Walking Access Commission what they are doing about it...
Brian Stephenson brian@bwstephenson.com
Brian
is a barrister with extensive experience in employment law and dispute
resolution. He is a past president of Federated Mountain Clubs of New
Zealand.
Dr Kay Booth kay@lindis.co.nz
Kay
is a tourism and recreation consultant with twenty years experience in
parks and recreation research and planning. She has held executive
positions with non-government conservation and recreation organisations.
The
Bushey Park Road Saga is viewable on YouTube as a 10 min overview or as
a 60 minute documentary (in nine parts). I can supply the hour doco as
a DVD at $20 per disk (donations also appreciated).
Email orders and payment details: bruce@recreationaccess.org.nz
Please make cheques out to 'Recreation Access New Zealand'
Bruce Mason