How to Make a Submission

Suggested personal submissions on "Public Access to New Zealand Outdoors"
Date Submissions Close: 30th November 2003

Plan of Action:

a)  individuals make personal submissions to the Minister by 30th Nov 03

b)  should you feel that additional comment is required in the main NZDA submission then send them to me by 24th Nov 03 - note that I will be out of Wellington from 28th Nov 03 down in the Macauley (hopefully!). My email address is pammie@clear.net.nz - please note - NOT HOTMAIL

c)  members making submissions should make themselves familiar with the DoC document - "Public Consultation: Walking Access in the New Zealand Outdoors", the PANZ document: "Improving Public Access to the Outdoors" and the Labour Government statement: "Labour Outdoor Recreation Policy". The PANZ document is highly recommended and covers all imaginable options. The DoC document poses the questions to be addressed in submissions.

d)  your submissions do not need to be typed - they can be handwritten and I believe that handwritten not on letterhead are given priority - individual submissions carry more weight by brevity

e)  address your submissions to: The Honorable Jim Sutton Minister of Rural Affairs Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON

f)  note that no stamp is required when posting to Parliament

g)  start off your submission with who you are and how many years of experience that you have had in the bush - suggest that you do not all identify yourselves as being members of the NZDA - simply belonging to an outdoors recreational body

h)  Sign your submission and send it off. It is better to make and individual submission rather than two non-related persons signing the one document. If it is husband, wife, 20 children and 15 grandchildren then the one document in this case would carry considerable weight.

Good luck and please action A.S.A.P

Ed Sylva, NZDA Advocate

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Suggestions:

Date:

The Honorable Jim Sutton
Minister of Rural affairs
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON.

Dear Minister,

I wish to make a submission on "Public Access to New Zealand Outdoors"

My name is Joe Bloggs and for the last 20 years my wife and our 20 children 15 grandchildren have enjoyed the freedom of the New Zealand outdoors, mountains and native bush. Not only do we enjoy tramping, but also partake in recreational hunting that we believe is an important part of our New Zealand Heritage.

My submission addresses the following points:

• concern that access to our lakes, rivers, mountains, bush and high country is becoming more difficult with land tenure review and purchase of estates by overseas buyers restricting or terminating access
• that access rights such as surveyed and paper roads are being lost through inaction and loss of information that used to be available on cadastral maps
• we would ask that this information be restored onto topographical maps that are commonly used
• that all paper and surveyed roads are proclaimed public roads or access to protect them from being closed off and denying access to present and future generations of New Zealanders
• that not all access should be walking access only - some access to remote areas should be by the responsible use of four wheel drive vehicles enabling persons of more advanced years or the disabled to enjoy the freedom of our outdoors
• that where a large tract of land has fallen into private hands denying access, then the government immediately enter into negotiations with the title holder to restore access and have that access secured by proclaiming it "public access" - this is an increasing problem where game farms or safari type farms/clubs are established blocking access to publicly owned conservation land behind
• that where access is presently considered as the Queen's Chain or Esplanade access then this is promulgated as "public access"
• that codes of access for all parties involved must be agreed, established , abided by and enforced
• that there are penalties able to be imposed on all parties if breaches of the code is proven - breaches would include willful damage or trespass by the users or illegally blocking off access by landowners
• that gate fees or payment to cross public lands or roads be immediately stopped and strong penalties be introduced for landowners who continue this practice
• that the Trespass Act 1968 and 1980 amendments are urgently addressed regarding the severe penalties on carrying firearms across private land for the legitimate purposed of hunting on adjoining conservation land
• that an "Access Agency" be established with adequate funding and empowered to address all the problems of public access, to be able to make recommendations to the appropriate authorities and to mediate if disputes arise - the agency membership to be representative of all interested parties
• that the Labour Government honour its pledge in its Outdoor Recreation Policy