7 Oct 2010

Meeting to discuss access to Kaingaroa forest

12:25 pm on 7 October 2010

A meeting is underway in Murapara to discuss public access to the Kaingaroa forest.

Last summer, a Rotorua based forestry company prevented hunters and anglers from using the forest citing fire safety concerns.

Peter Dunne of United Future and Rotorua MP Todd McClay are among those listening to concerns at the Murapara Services and Citizens Club today.

The use of 1080 in the Kaingaroa Forest is one of the issues, but lack of summer access to the world famous trout fishery and its impact on tourism related activity are the main reasons for this gathering.

Timberlands closed public access from October last year to April and says it will do the same this year if the fire risk is high.

Ownership of the land was transferred from the Crown to the CNI iwi collective, but the perception is that Timberlands is using that as an excuse to deny access and make the running of their own business simpler.