That a change in government has brought a change in attitude towards the high country was reinforced by Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson, in her address to Federated Farmers High Country section:
. . . we, the stewards of the high country – you as the farmers and me as the Minister responsible for public conservation land in the high country – have more in common than I think we often realise.
I think it’s fair to say that too often in New Zealand we are only prepared to emphasise and remember the differences rather than reflect all of what we achieve together. . .
I must emphasise that we share the common interest for preserving the high country for future generations – whether for farming, landscape and biodiversity protection or recreation.
Public conservation land constitutes about one third of the South Island high country. We are all stewards here. DOC, through Landcorp, has an association with Molesworth Station – 180,787 hectares home to New Zealand’s biggest herd of beef cattle, numbering up to 10,000 beasts. DOC has also granted over 800 grazing licences on public conservation land.
We share the common purpose of managing alternative economic opportunities from our core business – particularly tourism opportunities.
We share the threats. Fire, pests and weeds do not respect boundaries. This means as neighbours with these common interests we must work together. We may be neighbours for a very long time – and we, like you, want to be good neighbours.
The relationship between the previous government and high country farmers, especially those with pastoral leases was at best uncomfortable and often antagonistic.
Farmers felt their stewardship was undervalued and their property rights were threatened.
The current government’s acknowledgement of farmers’ stewardship and their role in safegaurding the land; and respect for their property rights have provided the foundation for a much healthier relationship between all politicians, DOC and farmers.
Homepaddock 