| Fish &
Game New Zealand notes the ongoing development of policy to enhance
public access to public resources, and supports the establishment
of a public access entity, the development of mapping and signage,
and the requirement for territorial authorities to retain and open
unformed legal roads for use by the public.
“Public access to public resources is extremely
important to most New Zealanders,” said Bryce Johnson, Chief
Executive of Fish & Game New Zealand, “and both the quantity
and quality of this access has been eroded over recent years due
to changing land use and ownership, and shifting riverbanks. The
development of public access maps and signage, and underlining the
value of unformed legal roads are positive steps for securing the
future.”
“However, the most important mechanism
is the establishment of the national access entity, and the roles,
functions and funding of this agency will determine just how well
new access is acquired and lost access is restored and realigned.
A strong leadership role will provide a useful focus to work with
the large amount of goodwill that currently exists, and adequate
funding will support signage, fencing, track maintenance and other
amenities that will facilitate access across private land.”
“It is also positive that the new access
entity will consider the Walking Access Panel’s additional
recommendations, and that if necessary, there should be options
to improve the agency’s ability to resolve difficult situations.” |
