Benefits of tenure review
Farmers may free up the more productive parts of their leases, and may thereby diversify into economic activities other than grazing, such as viticulture, forestry, subdivision and ecotourism.
Farmers are not forced into tenure review; they may enter or withdraw from the process at any time, as may the government.
Light grazing on new conservation lands will be allowed in special cases, where environmental impacts are limited. Some loss of sheep production will occur, balanced against increased production from new economic opportunities.
Horse riding through Molesworth Station
The public will gain access as of right to new conservation lands, where previously trespass rights were owned by leaseholders.
Natural ecological succession, in the absence of grazing, will lead to some tussock and grassland areas reverting to native shrublands, herbfields, forests and wetlands. Recovering ecosystems will in turn offer food and habitat for native species, many of which are endangered species.
The new conservation parks and reserves will offer potential economic benefits for tourism and related industries, and protect ecosystem services delivery, such as water supply.
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