Fundraiser for TV man’s land access
Officials floated the idea of crowd-funding to pay compensation due to United States TV star Matt Lauer for public access to his Central Otago farm.
Emails released to Stuff under the Official Information Act show bureaucrats recognised using taxpayer cash would be a contentious issue and suggested a fundraising campaign similar to that used to buy back Awaroa beach.
Lauer is legally entitled to compensation if the Commissioner of Crown Lands agrees to an easement or ‘‘right of way’’ through his Hunter Valley Station, close to Wanaka. That could run to millions of dollars.
He’s already partly opened up the station to the public, complying with conditions set by the Overseas Investment Office. But the Walking Access Commission and the Department of Conservation want more concessions from the American, with unrestricted access to a 40km unsealed road along Lake Hawea that would take visitors into the unspoilt Hunter Valley. Lauer and his tenants have refused – saying they are not denying access, but they want it to be controlled. They have expressed concerns about public safety and the practicalities of keeping track of trampers, hunters and tourists on the 6500ha property, which is in a tourist hotspot.
To end the deadlock, officials have applied to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to grant an easement, or right of way. If that goes ahead Lauer is entitled to compensation – which could run into the millions – and he may take court action.
DOC, WAC and other recreational advocacy groups were disappointed the OIO did not insist on public access to the Hunter Valley Station Road when they approved Lauer’s application to buy the lease in March 2017. Lauer made his position clear when his representatives met local outdoor enthusiasts the previous year.
Officials began preparing their application in January. DOC director-general Lou Sanson even became involved in the process, sending emails asking for updates.
On January 11, he sent an email to staff and the WAC chief executive Eric Pyle offering support. ‘‘Mountain bike [access] would be minimum. It’s too long to walk. We want to have another crack at Hunter Valley access,’’ he wrote to Pyle a few weeks later.
Ric Cullinane, WAC operations manager, responded and noted that granting an easement where the lessee doesn’t consent would set a precedent. ‘‘If the lessee doesn’t forgo compensation, and the ‘reduction in value’ of the lease is high (eg $50,000), it is unlikely the commission will meet this cost. Alternatives include a ‘political solution’, and crowd funding by a third party (eg Awaroa Bay.)’’
More than $2 million was raised through a Givealittle campaign to buy 7ha of private beach at Awaroa Inlet, in the Abel Tasman national park.
Officials have not expanded on what a ‘‘political solution’’ might involve. But the documents do show Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage was being kept up to date, with DOC staff writing a ministerial briefing paper.
The papers show officials recognised there were privacy concerns – the lakefront track runs right past the station homestead. Moving the road to reduce ‘‘public disturbance’’ and building a new bridge was suggested, however, they noted this ‘‘would come at considerable expense.’’
Lauer’s lawyer Graeme Todd said Lauer’s company Orange Lake had upgraded Meads Rd, a route to a DOC campsite, and access to the Sawyer Burn track and up to Sentinel Peak. There was controlled access to the Hunter Valley Station Road.