Waitaki Member of Parliament and National's spokesperson for Conservation Jacqui Dean says there is “huge opposition” to the Government’s Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill, which aims to ensure more sustainable, transparent and outcomes-based farming of leased Crown Land. 

In a statement to the media, Jacqui Dean says “an overwhelming response from the public highlights why the controversial Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill should be turfed”. 

"High country farmers have expressed their disapproval of the proposed bill which would see an end to tenure review and alter regulations on crown pastoral land. 

"Nearly all of the almost 2000 submissions received on the bill oppose it. 

"It is fantastic to see New Zealanders taking a stand for our high country farmers and submitting in such high numbers. 

"Our farmers are our caretakers of the land, preserving the unique flora and fauna of our high country. 

"This bill will create a regime where our high country farmers require numerous consents for what many would consider simple day to day activity on farms, like fencing. 

"It is clear the bill aims to put an end to farming in the high country, as it will become uneconomic and untenable over time. 

"This will lead to poor environmental outcomes as areas become overgrown and unmanageable. 

"The National Party opposes this bill and will not sit back while our high country farmers are the latest victim of an anti-farming crusade." 

A Government spokesperson told The Central App the intention of the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill is to “balance the management of inherent values with farming practices in a way that provides leaseholders certainty, brings land use controls into line with current science, and acknowledges a way of life in the high country”. 

“We think the Bill strikes the right balance,” the spokesperson says. 

“With regard to consultation, it began with a discussion document in 2019, which received 3,200 submissions. 

“That included one from the High Country Accord Trust, which is a leaseholder representative group. 

“Following the close of public consultation, further targeted engagement was undertaken with the Accord as well as iwi, and environmental and recreational advocacy groups.  

“LINZ has also received advice during the policy development process from its High Country Advisory Group – a group of experts, stakeholders and iwi, which includes two lessees.

“The reform Bill’s consultation received 181 submissions from 159 submitters.”

According to the Bill, the overall purpose and objectives include to better manage and control any further development or intensification of pastoral farming activity on Crown pastoral land and encourage sustainable ongoing use of the land for pastoral farming and recreation.

“The Crown owns approximately 1.2 million hectares of Crown pastoral land, largely in the South Island high country, making up 5% of New Zealand’s total land area,” the Bill states. 

“Most of this land is leased by the Crown for pastoral farming. 

“This land encompasses some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes and is a taonga for New Zealanders. 

“In administering this land, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) works closely with leaseholders who farm and live on the land, and have a strong connection to it. 

“Some of these families have lived on the land for multiple generations. 

“The land also has particular significance for Māori—in particular Ngāi Tahu, as the majority of Crown pastoral land sits inside the takiwā of the iwi.” 

Ngāi Tahu’s Treaty settlement acknowledged their rangatiratanga or right to retain their full tribal authority and control over their lands and all other valued possessions, including in relation to Crown pastoral land. 

“Ngāi Tahu are kaitiaki (stewards) of their takiwā, based on the principle of "ki uta ki tai” or "mountains to the sea”—the integrated management of all the iwi’s resources. 

“There has been increasing public concern about the administration of Crown pastoral land by LINZ, and a loss of biodiversity and landscape values on current and former pastoral land over time,” the Bill states. 

“This Bill makes changes to ensure that LINZ will administer Crown pastoral land in a way that maintains or enhances the ecological, landscape, cultural, heritage, and scientific values of the land for present and future generations, while providing for ongoing pastoral farming of the land. 

“In effect, these changes are intended to better manage and control any further development or intensification of pastoral farming activity on Crown pastoral land and encourage sustainable ongoing use of the land for pastoral farming and recreation.” 

The changes include -

• “ending the tenure review process, which has resulted in much former Crown pastoral land being freeholded and subject to more intensive farming: 
• “moving towards an outcomes-based approach to encourage pastoral farming that is sustainable, and decision making that better recognises impacts on inherent values: 
• “providing a clearer, more transparent, statutory decision-making process, with stronger accountability mechanisms and more opportunity for public input: 
• “supporting strong and enduring Crown-Māori relationships and recognising the relationship of tangata whenua with their ancestral lands.”

The Bill also outlines arrangements to provide for an efficient and fair transition for leaseholders. 

You can read the bill by clicking here.