Stoush over island jetty
A Stewart Island businessman says he’s been bullied after a jetty deal on the island was terminated.
Manfred Herzhoff fronted in the public forum of the Southland District Council meeting yesterday, where he read a report to councillors outlined the concerns of him and his wife Ulrike around dealings with the council, South Port and Environment Southland.
Ulrike Herzhoff owns the Rakiura Adventure Ltd and New Zealand Fish Ltd businesses on the island.
The accusations of bullying stem from what Manfred Herzhoff said was a breakdown in discussions over coastal permits for pontoon structures at Golden Bay and Fred’s Camp.
Since 2000, Herzhoff said Rakiura Adventure Ltd worked with South Port, which was in charge of the jetty structures on Stewart Island.
He said Rakiura Adventure wanted to develop its water transport operation on the island.
In 2015, Herzhoff said he was advised that South Port would offer the jetties to the district council.
As a result, the council initiated a public consultation process on the future ownership and management of the jetty and wharf structures.
Herzhoff said they were repeatedly approached to release the pontoon structure and coastal permit to the council, but they refused.
Early last year the discussions broke down and Herzhoff said Rakiura Adventure Ltd was ‘‘shown the door’’ because it refused to sign a draft agreement.
‘‘Within a week Rakiura Adventure Ltd received termination of their licence with South Port to access the pontoon, plus the additional request to de-install the structure within three months of this termination,’’ Herzhoff said. ‘‘Rakiura Adventure saw this as a gesture of bullying,’’ he said.
Herzhoff has sought legal advice and believed the termination was a contravention of the existing permits. He is taking his concerns to the Ombudsman, Attorney General, and the Crown Law Office.
Southland District Mayor Gary Tong said there would not be any discussion on Herzhoff’s claims at the council meeting. ‘‘In light of your comments that you are going to be approaching the ombudsman it is probably not appropriate for councillors to ask questions,’’ Tong said. ‘‘My only comment I’ve got to make is, I understand Rakiura Adventure and NZ Fish have never ever been shown the door, the door has always been open.’’
Rakiura Adventure Ltd was ‘‘shown the door’’ because it refused to sign a draft agreement.