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Outdoors enthusiasts and conservationists are celebrating a $40 million purchase of spectacular high-country land, ensuring its future protection and access for the public.
The Government's purchase of the 78,196ha St James Station has put back into public hands a property Prime Minister Helen Clark describes as "staggering in
scale and in terms of its natural attributes".
Conservation lobby group Forest and Bird says the purchase, when added to other conservation land, makes the vision of a "coast-to-coast protected corridor" a reality.
The central South Island station includes the largest area of land leased by the Crown for farming, but in recent years only 13 per cent has been used for grazing.
It is located on three mountain ranges, and contains the headwaters of two major rivers - the Waiau and the Clarence.
"It has 11 different tramping routes, the Amuri ski field, and great mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, horse riding and hunting opportunities," Helen Clark said. "The property's almost untouched landscape is dominated by exceptional natural features.
"Some 430 indigenous species of flora have been identified on the property and 30 native bird species have been sighted there."
The station's rich heritage, including historic Maori access routes and early European farming sites, would also be protected.
The Government bought the property from the Stevenson family, who have owned it since 1927, and will take advice on whether it should become a conservation park or a national park. A spokesman for the Stevensons, Mark Tavendale, said the family were pleased the property's unique landscape would be preserved for future generations and public access increased.
"The family was concerned that an owner other than the Crown could have had a very different set of priorities for the land."
Forest and Bird high-country spokeswoman Sue Maturin said adding the station to public conservation land was "an outstanding achievement that all New Zealanders will be able to enjoy".
The property included part of the well-known St James Walkway and completed a protected corridor between the Seaward Kaikoura Range on the east coast through to the Pancake Rocks on the West Coast.
"St James was the missing link - it was virtually surrounded by public conservation land, but now will be a welcome part of it."
Brendon Ward, chief executive of the New Zealand Recreation Association, said purchases such as this provided invaluable outdoor opportunities for people.
"The more that is available, and the more we can encourage people to get out and use what is available, the better, regardless of whether it is remote or not."
The Crown will take possession of the station this month.