PRESS RELEASE

5 August 2005

For immediate release

Rural Women New Zealand appointment to land access panel welcomed

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has welcomed yesterday's announcement that its executive officer, Maggie Bayfield, has been appointed to the Government's new eight-person panel to consult further on public access to waterways over private land.

RWNZ has long called for a fair and open process regarding any changes to land access, in order to allow the impact on rural families to be rigorously scrutinized.

“We expressed strong concerns over the closed nature of the process in the past,” says President, Sherrill Dackers. “We are very pleased the Government has listened and has now established a process to hear the views of interested groups, particularly rural families.

“We also welcome Minister Jim Sutton's announcement that there will be no imposition of a five metre walkway. Rural Women New Zealand does not believe that the objective of public access will best be achieved through legislation.”

Maggie Bayfield brings to the panel extensive experience in working on land management issues and consulting with landowners, having been a director of the QEII National Trust for many years.

For further information contact:

Sherrill Dackers

National President

Rural Women New Zealand

Email: