Advisory group named

MEMBERS of a new South Island High Country Advisory Group have been named.

Land Information New Zealand (Linz) chief executive Andrew Crisp was delighted with the number and calibre of applications.

It was originally planned to appoint up to six members of the public, but with so many highlyskilled applicants from such diverse backgrounds, the number was increased to 10, Mr Crisp said in a statement.

Linz would adopt a new way of working in the high country. The group would havea total of 13 members, with representatives from Linz, the Department of Conservation and Ngai Tahu, alongside the nominated members.

It was expected to meet four times a year and the first meeting would be in September.

Members were appointed for two years.

The group comprises. —

Colin Drummond from Erewhon Station, Edward Ellison (nominated by Ngai Tahu), Jan Finlayson (Federated Mountain Clubs), QEII National Trust chairman James Guild, Ministry for the Environment biodiversity collaborative group member Mike Harding, Geoff Holgate (Walking Access Commission), rural landscape planner Di Lucas, Jen Miller (Forest and Bird), High Country Accord chairman Jonathan Wallis, and Madeleine Wright (Environmental Defence Society).