Thread: Mathias/wilberforce

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Not saying it is the case with this property, but I do know of instances where fictitious 'lambing' ( only wethers are present in closed blocks ) access / crossing closures coincide with the opening of the High Country fishing season and then in Autumn there is a second extended 'closure' (for mustering) coinciding with the start of the Roar. Both 'closures' denying access by the public to publicly owned DOC administered crown lands. Yet during these access closure periods fee paying fishing and hunting guides have access with their clients across private land to the DOC estate, effectively capturing crown land for private hire during these periods. I have even seen an instance of a property not content with the 'closures' described above going further and breaking the law by padlocking a gate across an 'unformed public road' which provides an access corridor to the Public Estate. A letter describing the offence to the local Council bringing the desired result.

The aforementioned property actually relocated a gate across the public road, and moved the track after the gate by the upper homestead, and replanted the area so that no public access was possible. Even though 25m past, its a paper road all the way to Fanghill hut.
So only access is around the riverbed on the dozer track to boundary stream. Matter was reported to the council and nothing done about it as the manager had "arranged alternative access through the river", when in fact the alternative was useless if the river could not be crossed.

As mentioned, the first roar after new owners, there was actually fencing extending into the riverbed with "do not cross - mustering" signs on it. Since this is public land, photos were taken and it was reported. Now they continue to put them up but have a removable electric tape for vehicles to cross on the riverbed.