High country farmers shout foul 

High country farmers are warning they may pull out of tenure review negotiations claiming they are being unfairly manipulated by the Government.

High Country Accord spokesman Ben Todhunter accuses the Government of being hell-bent on converting most South Island tussock country into 22 parks.

He says the land involved is in Crown pastoral leases which, from a legal and market value point of view, are very close to freehold.

Mr Todhunter says it is only reasonable for farmers to seek a fair price for their interest in the land as anyone else being asked to relinquish their property to the Crown would do the same.

- NEWSTALK ZB