Thread: Kaimanawa Forest Park

Originally Posted by Ruger7mm

Waipakihi Road maybe a "road" in function and structure, however doesn't have the legal status of "legal road to pass and re pass", even if the title says it is owned by the Crown that doesn't mean it is actually a legal road. The land was aquired rather than taken through a process that pays the private owners going value for the land, although in my opinion the buyer has more advantage than the seller.

It was "acquired" from one Government department (Tongariro National Park) by another (NZED). The land in question was gifted by Horonuku Te Heuheu Tūkino IV, starting back in the late 1800's and finishing up as what we see as the TNP in the very early 1900's. The land either side only became Maori Trust land at the same time as the road was surveyed off and became Crown Land.

For it suddenly to become not Crown land would seem mighty suspicious, given the 54 odd year history of the road being used by the public to access the Kaimanawa Forest Park.

With all the literature that's gone back and forth between forum members and government departments, it looks to me that this issue needs as much sunlight as possible...right now... to ensure ultimate transparency over what happens to Crown land and the public access it has afforded us all for over the last half century.