Hon Christopher Finlayson

Part 4 Commercial redress

CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) : I will take a brief call on Part 4. I do not intend to say much about Subpart 1, which deals with the “Transfer of commercial redress properties”. These properties are defined by clause 10 as meaning “the licensed land” and “a deferred selection property”. That is all in order and can be supported.

Subpart 2 deals with “Licensed land and MAF forest land”, and a couple of amendments are proposed by Supplementary Order Paper 250. I referred to these in my second reading speech. The first of these, which the National Party supports, is the proposal to include a new clause 130A, so that where land has been transferred, public access will continue. This issue arose a couple of times, both in relation to this bill and the bill we will shortly debate. It simply states that “Clause 6.2 of the Crown forestry licence (which relates to public entry for recreational purposes) continues to apply even though the Crown is no longer the licensor under the licence …”. Clause 130B will be inserted by the same Supplementary Order Paper to ensure that public right of way easements may be granted. There is a reference to various provisions of the Crown Forest Assets Act and there is nothing in there that I need detain the Committee on. We are happy with Subpart 2.

Subpart 3 deals with the “Right of access to protected sites”, which are also defined, and that is all as it should be. The National Party supports those provisions, as well.