One of the largest parks in Wairarapa could be formed if the Department of Conservation and other groups step in to purchase a 2000ha farm.
Sheep and beef farmer Mike Butterick has been in talks since the start of the year to sell his property and its massive corridor of nativebush that stretches from Carterton to South Wairarapa.
A former Cantabrian, Mr Butterick wants to return to the South Island and is offering a number of undisclosed groups first pick on the land rather than putting it on the open market.
He saw huge potential as a park because it rubbed up against a DoC reserve, had protected land on it already, and was only 30 minutes away from Masterton.
"I would like to see it used for school groups and educational type things, because of the terrain you could have little kids going for one-day excursions and longer trips for bigger kids."
Mr Butterick said the land was well fenced from stock and there were clearings and paddocks that could be replanted.
He could also see the land registered as a carbon farm under the Emissions Trading Scheme that could generate cash to sustain the park.
While Mr Butterick would not disclose the price he said it was "fair" reflecting the market and the value of the native bush.
Originally from rural Ashburton, Mr Butterick purchased the land in 1995 butis now keen to move back to Canterbury.
"Everyone's really really keen on the idea, but obviously the difficulty will be the funding and we are sort of trying to get DoC to come on board."
Wairarapa biodiversity officer Lucy Brophy, who works for all three district councils, is brokering Mr Butterick's proposal.
She said the bush area had well maintained paths and had one of the largest areas of mature native vegetation outside of the Tararua/Rimutaka and Haurangi Forest parks.
"It's really lovely, you have got to have a walk through it to realise how special it is," she said.
Ms Brophy said she couldn't reveal the stakeholders or price as negotiations continued.
