The government is playing the blame game over the potential for ongoing restrictions on public access to conservation land at Lake Hāwea.
Matt Lauer Photo: AFP
Hunter Valley Station, which surrounds the Hāwea Conservation Park, was last year leased for $13 million to former American television host Matt Lauer.
The public access way cuts through the station but Mr Lauer's not keen on an easement for vehicle access.
Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage is pointing the finger at former ministers, National's Steven Joyce and Mark Mitchell, for overseeing approval of the lease without guaranteeing full public access.
"They failed to provide adequate access for New Zealanders. There was walking access provided to Sentinel Peak, but not the vehicle access that the Walking Access Commission asked for, to the northern end of the lake."
Hunter Valley Station Photo: Land Information New Zealand
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters is calling it shoddy work by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO).
"The lawyer would not be writing what he's writing now if he wasn't on solid ground of neglect on the part of the OIO and the former National Party government."
Matt Lauer's lawyer last told the Crown it would owe him millions in compensation if it put in an unsealed road for trampers and hunters to access the land-locked conservation estate.
Mr Lauer is now saying it is not about the cash.
"It's not a case of saying 'he would want compensation' - your statute says that.
"Your statute says if an easement is placed on a property, the pastoral lease owner or the property owner is entitled to compensation. I have not asked for a cent."
Ms Sage said he would be eligible for money back should the easement be granted.
"If you get an easement over pastoral lease for public access there would be some compensation, but not the millions that is being talked about."
The Walking Access Commission wants vehicle access right in to the lake and conservation estate - a 40km road and estimated two-to-three hour drive.
A group in support of the proposal, the Federated Mountain Clubs, said New Zealanders needed access to pristine parts of our country.
Federated Mountain Clubs president Peter Wilson said access would still be monitored.
"The easement proposal that's being negotiated isn't for unfettered access. It's for controlled and managed access, managed by the Department of Conservation."
But Federated Farmers' Otago president Simon Davies said he was concerned forced public access in this case could set a precedent - worrying prospect for lease and freehold landowners.
"I know personally on my farm I would get very angry and upset if people were on my property without my authority."
He said it was out of concern for health and safety.
"Farming operations can be innately dangerous."
"If farmers are unaware of people on their property, they have no idea that they're there and they can then potentially inadvertently expose those visitors to risks."
Former Land Information Minister Mark Mitchell stood by signing off Mr Lauer's lease.
"It opened up and gave the New Zealand public much better access than they had before."
The Walking Access Commission is now working on an updated proposal for easement.
