Foreign Ownership of Rural Land
Submitters state that the denial of public access on land in foreign ownership has increased the prominence of the land access issue. As overseas interests and absentee landowners buy land, traditional access is often prohibited. There is submitter concern that foreign landowners do not value the opportunities for recreation that New Zealand's natural resources have to offer, nor do they understand associated legislation.
A submitter observed a link identified between the erosion of access and the sale of Crown pastoral leases to new lessees who lack the goodwill and experience of traditional farming. Access restrictions, such as those being imposed on beaches in the Marlborough Sounds, are causing concern that land access in New Zealand will become as restricted as in the United States of America, where private beaches, rivers and lakes are closed to the public or only open after paying a fee.
Contact for Enquiries
Mark Neeson
Manager, Land and Water Policy
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Phone: +64 894 0703
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
