Comments
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Honora Some facts: Easements are bought and paid for whether the properties are freehold or leasehold. These farmers have received money as compensation and they don't allow access, the access was bought and paid for. The weed problems were caused by pastoralism in the first place. Selective grazing meant hieraceum was allowed to flourish at the expense of more palatable species. When grazing ceases, the native species flourish. The wilding pines are unable to be controlled by farmers e.g Mt Cook Station, Flock Hill and up the head of the Branch. That's why we have city slickers coming out by the busload volunteering to do eradication with some success e.g. Ryton and Torlesse Stations. Locally, this is an initiative of Ecan, not DoC.
18 January 2011
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phillipws Just been into Spur Hut, North Opuha Conservation Area. Nice area and hut.
However those above bemoaning what farmers are doing and critising Tenure Review need to wake up, there would no access to this area via easement without tenure review (remember you are going over private land), and the North Opuha Conservation Area would not exist if no Tenure Review. If DOC had control of greater areas of NZ, as taxpayers we could not afford to maintain weed and pest control. Enjoy what we have and be curitus to land owners who allow access over their land.
17 January 2011
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Honora Torrid 4 days...yes, that sounds like the Waitaha. I do recall tears forming once I realized it was coming on to rain as I tried to straddle/swing around one of those vicious bushes that pushes you back!
29 August 2010
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bmackz Unfortunately Permolats work in the Waitaha had been undone by the winter storms of 08, the river was in flood and we had a torrid 4 days getting to Top Waitaha. We did some small repairs at Ivory lake. I had been in contact with Ted Brennan and he advised me of a leak.
I understand Waterfall Biv has been removed and Ranger was only saved at the last moment. I would love to do more to save these huts but stuck in Auckland its a 4 hour drive to the nearest real wildness, unless you consider Queen St a wilderness as I do. Not many huts there. Am preparing an article for Wilderness mag on the standard ex NZFS 6 bunker hut.
20 August 2010
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Honora I'd love to go back to the Cox! I've never seen so much animal sign as in that stream that goes from the saddle with Row Stream down to the Cox.
Frank suggests to people who offer to help us with track work, that they do stuff in the Waitaha. We did our track work in there in 2000 in response to an article written by Ted Brennan and published in "Wilderness" that basically wrote the Waitaha off.
18 August 2010
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bmackz I have been to Big Tops and watch the work of groups like Permolat and the Remote huts website with whom you are associated and appreciate your efforts. Love your work. Ranger Biv and the Cox river are on my bucket list. Last year was in the Waitaha and saw Permolats work there too.
18 August 2010
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Honora Thanks, bmackz. We've spent 102 days on track work since the last 10 years and have cut, marked and continue to maintain 11 tracks including the tracks to Ranger Biv and Big Tops. Through our track cutting and other actions e.g. repairing the roof on Tarn Hut and replacing the door on Pfeifer Biv, we have saved many huts from becoming derelict or being removed due to low use e.g. Big Tops, Salmon Creek Biv and Rocky Creek Biv. We both work full-time in Christchurch.
I especially love the freedom to roam that we are currently denied here in New Zealand thanks to the farming lobby stalling recent attempts to bring the legislation more into line with the rights in Europe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam
17 August 2010
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bmackz You should know who you are criticizing before you make comments like that. Frank and Honora make a huge contribution, maintaining huts, cutting tracks etc. Your comments say more to me about yourself than your subjects.
16 August 2010
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