Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3565] 
10.  
DAVID PARKER (NZ Labour—Otago) 
 to the  
Minister for Rural Affairs 
: What has the Government done about investigating issues surrounding land access? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Rural Affairs) 
: 
 Late last month I set up the land access reference group a group of 11 wise and experienced community members to investigate issues around land access. There is confusion about the law as it stands—for example around the coverage of the Queen’s Chain—and there have been conflicts around the country about access. This Government thinks it is better to address the issue now rather than leave it to fester. 
David Parker 
: How can people have input into this reference group’s work? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The group welcomes submissions. People can write letters to the group and send them to my office and I will ensure they are passed on. 
Shane Ardern 
: Can the Minister reassure farmers that the increased access to their private property will not trap farmers into increased compliance costs as they try to mitigate legislation such as those related to occupational safety and health dog control and other Government-imposed laws; if not why not; and will the Minister given that he is in the mood for replying to letters respond to a North Island farmer Mr Koers who wrote to him about a month ago outlining some of the problems he has with marijuana cultivation the slaughter of two heifers and the theft of chainsaws and motorbikes? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There are three questions there. Two may be answered. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Firstly I do not recall a letter from the alleged correspondent the member mentioned. Maybe he is one of those who forget to sign their name. As for the questions about people having increased rights to walk across farmers’ land the member is into his conspiracy theories again. There is no predetermined outcome for this consultation. It is by no means certain that increased access to private land will even be recommended. 
Gerrard Eckhoff 
: Will the Minister assure this House that irrespective of the Prime Minister’s reference group’s recommendations he will not allow it to breach the exclusive use of private property guaranteed under the provisions of article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The member has read something in the Treaty of Waitangi that I have missed after reading it many many times. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: What is the Government doing to address the problem of a landowner’s occupational safety and health liability for the safety of members of the public crossing private land in order to access public land when this occurs without the knowledge of the landowner? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The law was amended not long ago with the intention of clarifying landowners’ responsibilities in respect of people crossing their land. In so far as it may still not be clear that the land being crossed has to be the injured person’s place of work before there is any liability attaching to the landholder I think the Government would be prepared to contemplate further clarifying amendments.