- Urban and rural private land
- Changes in land use
- Changes in land ownership
- Changes in demand for access
The Characteristics of Access
Urban and rural private land
The traditional connection to rural areas is lessening as the urban population base grows. Participants acknowledge that traditional social conventions are changing. Conventions associated with club membership and their codes of conduct are under pressure as fewer people belong to associations. Individuals attempting to access the land do not necessarily have the same understanding of the landowner-recreationalist relationship and the importance of goodwill.
Participants note that as community structures change, knowledge about rural land is lost and informal access arrangements are threatened. It is often unclear where to access a farm property to request permission and concerns regarding personal safety and privacy mean that published information about contact details is not easily made available.
The increasing pressures on social change referred to by participants include uncertainties relating to information, liability and conduct issues as well as changing social dynamics. Although landowners may grant access, several participants state that the new generation seeking access to private land does not necessarily understand the need to request permission. This can be made more difficult in cases where it is hard to access or find the required landowner.
Changes in land use
Farming systems and land uses are changing and intensified practices are being introduced, making access arrangements more difficult. Participants add that the impact of lifestyle blocks and subdivision can mean that access is more inappropriate than in the past.
Changes in land ownership
Access proponents who believe that they act in a responsible manner would like to have reasonable access by permission onto private land. These participants are increasingly concerned that foreign owners, landowners with urban attachments and land change are resulting in the closure of land. Participants also mention that access can be denied without reason or Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSEA) requirements are used as an excuse.
Landowner participants state that in most cases they grant public access, but there are increasing pressures for the occasions when access is denied. Most participants indicate that goodwill has a large role in the landowner-recreationalist relationship and people are keen to maintain that convention. Yet both groups feel that goodwill is shifting. Landowner participants feel that goodwill can be compromised when people regard access as a right or access is abused, such as gates being left open.
Changes in demand for access
Increased mobility and desire for recreation such as mountain biking and 4WD can put pressure on some rural land, especially areas in the North Island where there is a largely concentrated population.
Landowner participants state several reasons for reducing the provision of access, including personal security, property/stock loss, use if land for illegal purposes, theft, the HSEA and fire liabilities, farm management, compliance issues, over-use of resources and biosecurity. In addition, participants state that new immigrants may not be aware of rural conventions and informal codes of conduct. Changing land use and increased pressure for access means that it can be more convenient to deny access when problems arise or to simply avoid the potential for conflict. Some participants are concerned that a formalised right to access may increase confrontation.
Some participants state that there is a lack of information on how landusers are expected to behave on rural land, including a set of guidelines for common practice. Participants recognise that people who desire to access the land for genuine recreational purposes would be happy to follow a code of conduct. Participants state that it is unfortunate that a minority of the public may access the land with criminal intent, having no regard for good conduct or property rights.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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