A vision for the high country - conservation parks & reserves
In August 2003 the Government developed High Country Objectives to promote the sustainability of this ecologically-fragile region from conservation, economic and social perspectives.
The conservation goals are being achieved largely via whole-property purchases by the Government's Nature Heritage Fund, and tenure review of pastoral leases, a process run by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), in which the Department of Conservation acts as an adviser on the conservation values.
Conservation parks and reserves
A family picnics beside Lake Tennyson,
Molesworth Station
Among the Government's aims for the high country is a network of conservation parks and reserves. Their locations and sizes will depend mainly on the outcomes of tenure review and strategic whole property purchases.
DOC identified, in a general sense, 15-20 potential areas containing high conservation values as a guide to what might be achieved in the high country for conservation. In deciding on possible park and reserve locations, DOC looked at:
- Areas where tenure review has occurred
- Areas where tenure review is likely to, or will occur
- Areas where accumulations of property for conservation are emerging
- Where high conservation/public recreation values are located
- Iconic properties for conservation/public recreation.
In addition, the parks should be at least 10,000 ha in size, have distinct ecological character, and be accessible. The final result will depend on the outcomes of tenure review and property purchases.
The government's high country objectives
- Promote ecologically-sustainable management of Crown-owned lands, including pastoral leases
- Enable the freeholding of productive land
- Protect land of high conservation value, preferably by a return to full Crown ownership
- Secure public access to, and enjoyment of the high country
- Progressively establish a network of parks and reserves
- Foster communities, infrastructure and the economy of the high country
- Obtain a fair financial return to the Crown on its land assets
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