Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7831] 
10.  
JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Land Information 
: Does the current system of tenure review of Crown pastoral lease land include any requirement to ensure public access to public land and waterways that are adjacent to any freeholded pastoral lease land; if not why not? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE (Minister for Land Information) 
: 
 Crown land including public land and waterways may be included in a review in which case access would be able to be provided. I respectfully refer the member to section 36(3) of the Crown Pastoral Land Act in that regard. In any case access will need to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Will the Government be directing the Commissioner of Crown Lands who has stated to public access interest groups that he is not obliged by the tenure review system to provide for access to conservation areas to do so now; if not why not? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: The Government is presently reviewing the total policy in regard to the Crown Pastoral Land Act. I would like to think that within the next couple of weeks we will be able to come back to the House with clear directions in that regard. 
Clayton Cosgrove 
: What reports has the Minister received on the progress of the Crown pastoral tenure review process? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: Over 160 leaseholders are participating in the review at the moment. Out of 16 tenure reviews that were substantially completed as at 30 June 2003 over 45 percent of the leased land had been permanently returned to the Crown estate in terms of its conservation values and access has been provided to all but one. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Does the Minister agree with the statement by the Prime Minister reported in the  
New Zealand Herald 
 that the amount of foreshore ownership was “a very small amount”? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: That has nothing to do with the primary question or with any supplementary questions. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The original question is in respect of access around public waterways which makes the issue I raised of considerable public interest. I think it is reasonable for me to expect an answer from the Minister for Land Information as to whether he agrees with the Prime Minister’s point. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I suggest that the member read the question again. The question is about the current system of tenure review of Crown pastoral lease land which has nothing to do with the foreshore. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It is up to the Minister whether he wishes to provide an answer in this area. He said that it is not part of this particular question and that is his answer. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Will the Government consider amending the Property Law Act which enables landowners to extinguish easements across their land through the courts without any public process; if not how will the Minister ensure that access negotiated during tenure review is secure? 
Hon JOHN TAMIHERE 
: We will factor section 129B of the Property Law Act—which is what I suspect the member is talking about—into our review processes.