Historic Southland forest protected

The Nature Heritage Fund has negotiated the protection of 230ha of Southland native forest.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter said yesterday pristine areas of indigenous forest in the remote West Rowallan area of Western Southland would be preserved.

The land forms part of about 57,000ha given to 4000 Maori under the South Island Landless Natives Act of 1906, and their descendants still own it.

Mr Carter and Under-Secretary for Conservation Mita Ririnui said the owners and the Crown acknowledged the land had significant cultural and historical value and was taonga to the owners.