Central Zone PRO
Report of activity for June 2010
Hi all interested 4wders. My first month as CZ PRO has been a time to
look listen and think about what can I do in this role to make it worthwhile,
to not just myself, but to the 4WD community and Clubs.
As I fairly quickly get bored with looking, listening and thinking, I
did some things as well. Last week went to the NGO/DOC bi monthly meeting at
Conservation House in Wellington. First thing I
learnt is that NGO means Non Governmental Organisations, and at the meeting the
NGO’s get a chance to talk to the DOC reps.
NGO’s are all those groups and Associations like NZFWD Association, Fish
and Game, Mountain runners, Mountain bikers, and many more including ECO, “Oh
damn another three letter riddle” I’m thinking as I sit there.
ECO had a lot to
say at the meeting so who is ECO I’m thinking as I’m listening to this guy. ECO
is an umbrella
group of environment and conservation organisations in New Zealand. In other words every green
group one could mention. The lady next to me (from ECO) said hi, who are you
representing; right here’s my chance to tell her what’s going on. “Hi I’m Roger
from the NZ 4WD Assn” I proudly told her. She said “Oh” with an attitude and
never spoke to me again. The point here is that we do appear to have some
opposition from the ECO type groups but that may not be news to most of us.
On
the good side – at cup of tea time I sidled up to the DOC guy who chaired the
meeting – John Cumberpatch. Now John is a really nice guy, he is the boss
(Regional Manager) of DOC all South Island. He asked who I was and upon
my reply which included a line about how we only wanted to manage access on
DOC’s behalf to all their land, he said, “oh good, glad you are here. You 4WD
clubs are doing a great job with this line. Much of the former 4WD silliness
has stopped since you guys have been managing 4WD people.” Well wow that made the
whole meeting so worthwhile. Next time maybe I’ll just go for the cup of tea
bit and leave out the meeting? I came away bristling with confidence and ready
to gain a bit of ground against ECO and the greenies the next time round.
This
week was a completely new challenge. An invitation from WAC to attend the
launch of the “Outdoor Access Code”. (WAC is New Zealand Walking Access
Commission) This launch took place at the Beehive and was officiated by
Minister of Agriculture - David Carter, Federated Farmers, and John Acland who
is the chairman of WAC. I pinched this off the net - (The Walking Access
Commission has released the final version of its guidelines on walking access
in rural areas. Commission chair John Acland says the code sets out the responsibilities
of both users and landowners, and all interested groups are on board.)
The
New Zealand Access Code sets out the rights and responsibilities of users and
landowners, and includes a section on Motor vehicles. I have collected some
brochures to give out. For those of you who were not at 4WD Assn conference,
WAC is going to overlay maps of paper roads over current maps and this will
form the basis of where public access should be allowed (but with respect).
Those are my words to give you a quick outline.
That
completes this week’s 4WD work amongst the towers and powers of Wellington. But wait there’s more, for
next week, following a contact made by my CCVC Land Access Officer associate
Grant Purdie, we are attending a meeting with Hunter Donaldson from Walking
Access, to give him some input and our thinking on the legislative proposal re
bylaw making powers that local authorities have in respect of roads. In other
words, can or can’t Councils close paper roads. Very important.
Then
to top off the month and begin July on a high point, I am leading a trip up Takapari Road to and over the Summit of the Ruahine Ranges on Sunday July 4th.
About twenty vehicles from various Wellington Clubs are coming. This is the
track talked about and offered to us by DOC Manawatu at the NZFWD Assn
conference.
Roger
Seymour
Central
Zone PRO
