Lauer signs high country station access deal
United States TV personality Matt Lauer has signed an agreement with the Department of Conservation to allow public access to his high country station.
The new agreement, allowing public access through Hunter Valley Station in Central Otago, will provide ‘‘clarity’’ for users, a representative for the owner says.
The station, on the shores of Lakes Ha¯ wea and Wanaka, is at the centre of a high-profile dispute.
Hiking and hunting groups want unrestricted access along a private road into the valley and Hāwea conservation park. Lauer, and his tenants, said that was too dangerous and could interrupt farming operations.
During the last month the Department of Conservation and Orange Lakes NZ Limited have been working on an agreement to clarify that access. They have been supported by the Walking Access Commission and LINZ. The final agreement allows for up to six 4WD vehicles per day to be granted access to Hunter Valley Station farm track between December and April. During the winter period public access for 4WD vehicles will be ‘‘generally unavailable’’ due to ‘‘winter conditions’’.
Mountain bike, foot and horse access will be available year-round, except during a closure for lambing from October 1 to December 1.
The conditions of use are set out in the agreement and must be signed and returned to farm managers, by users.
Conditions include a $35 fee charged by Hunter Valley Station for each vehicle to contribute to the maintenance of the private farm track.
DOC Central Otago operations manager Mike Tubbs said the agreement gave a clear outline of the access to Hunter River Valley and Ha¯ wea Conservation Park.
Orange Lakes director and lawyer Graeme Todd said he had not seen an example of people being unreasonably denied access over the farm track since Orange Lakes took over in 2017.
However: ‘‘We agreed it wouldn’t hurt for there to be more clarity around what access had been given since Orange Lakes took ownership, how access could be arranged and the terms upon which it would be granted.’’
According to a Department of Conservation statement, access through Hunter Valley Station was not well understood in the past.
The Walking Access Commission has agreed to put an application for an easement on Hunter Valley Station farm track, which had previously been lodged with the Commissioner for Crown Lands, on hold as people become familiar with the agreement.
‘‘. . . we agreed it wouldn’t hurt for there to be more clarity around what access had been given since Orange Lakes took ownership.’’ Orange Lakes director and lawyer Graeme Todd