Nelson Mayor Nick Smith has raised alarm about the future of the Abel Tasman National Park as the Nelson Tenths issue comes to resolution, but both the land’s rightful owners and the Attorney-General say visitors won’t notice a difference on the ground.
By Max Frethey for Local Democracy Reporting
Last week, Smith said Te Here ā Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill would remove natural protections from more than 1600 hectares of coastal land currently within the national park.
“I believe the Bill is making a serious mistake that future generations will regret,” he said on social media.
The land is part of 3000 hectares across Nelson and Tasman that are being transferred to Te Here ā Nuku Trust after the High Court found that the Crown was not their owner.
The Bill seeks to facilitate the transferral of the land and end the country’s longest-running property dispute – the Nelson Tenths case.
“I do not question the need to resolve the Nelson Tenths issue but believe it can be done without compromising this internationally-acclaimed national park,” Smith said.
The Bill currently going through Parliament would see a 25-year licence for the Department of Conservation to manage a 55km-long strip of land that includes the coastal Great Walk.
But Smith, a former Minister of Conservation, had particular concerns with some specific clauses, including those he said would enable the Trust to develop the land after the 25 years conclude and to remove discreet areas from the licensed area.
“The issue for me is not in the Trust owning part of the park but ensuring the area is fully protected as national park in perpetuity.”
He has made a submission on the Bill asking for protections to be retained, and created a petition, now signed by more than 1700 people, seeking the same.
Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust said the legislation going through Parliament was “hugely positive” for the region.
“The Bill strikes a balance between the interests of the public and the rights of the legal landowners. It provides certainty and clarity and allows for the seamless transition of land from the Crown to the Trust.”
It said the 25-year agreement put in place an ongoing framework with DOC to “ensure that our collective aspirations are recognised, well managed and protected intergenerationally”, and that public access would remain in place.
“It establishes a way of working that provides for mutual protection of those places and a continuation of the important conservation work that DOC carries out.”
Any subsequent agreement, after the 25-year period, would be underpinned by partnership, kaitiakitanga, and stewardship “for the benefit of generations to come”, the Trust added.
Attorney-General Chris Bishop said the Crown had never owned the land and that, “in a nutshell, the land is the private property of a large number of individual New Zealand citizens”.
The Crown had incorrectly incorporated the land into the Abel Tasman National Park when it was established, he said.
Following the High Court’s findings, the Crown and the trustees negotiated the future use of the private land.
“The resulting agreement is that the land will continue to form part of the national park and there would be a seamless experience for users of the national park for a generation.”
Public submissions closed on the Bill on Monday, and it will be reported back to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee by July 29.
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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