Farmers launch orange ribbon campaign at Fieldays

Farmers picked a symbolic venue yesterday to start their orange ribbon campaign against the Government's proposal to introduce land legislation.

The Fieldays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton became the launching pad for the Federated Farmers campaign, which aims to stop what it says is a risk to farmers' security and livelihoods.

Rural Affairs Minister Jim Sutton has said he hopes to have the legislation, which would allow the public access to private land, tabled in Parliament before this year's election.

Mr Sutton announced last year plans to open access to lakes, creeks and rivers.

Under the proposals, farmers will have to allow people on to their land if they can reach 5m pathways beside water from a public area such as a road.

Farmers will retain property rights over the strip, but will not be compensated for the public use of their land.

Opposition MPs were out in force at the Fieldays, gaining as much mileage from the uproar over the proposal among farmers as possible.

Act rural affairs spokesman Gerry Eckhoff predicted it would become the biggest election issue for farmers.

"Farmers have always had the ability to say no if they so choose.

"But the other side of the coin is New Zealanders have generally always sought farmers' permission [for access].

"With this there will be widespread abuse."

Sport fisherman Stuart Kane said yesterday he had never had any problems with farmers giving him access to their land and waterways to fish and he had always asked for permission.

"This legislation is a cure looking for a disease, really."

Federated Farmers president Tom Lambie said a petition which had 26,000 signatures against the proposal would be taken from the Far North to the South Island.

It would arrive at Parliament next Thursday. Farmers would organise their own protests on the way.

"This is a really hot topic. The fundamental right for farmers to manage who comes on to their land is being taken away," he said.

The proposal posed not only security risks for farmers, but biosecurity and safety risks if they could not control who gained access to their properties.

National Party leader Don Brash promised farmers at Fieldays yesterday there would be no access legislation passed under National.

"This is the worst kind of legislation. It removes the fundamental right for land owners to determine who comes on their property," he said at National's launch of its agricultural policy.

Omokoroa farmer Graham Oliver said he had a river running through his property and he was happy for people to have access if they asked permission.

Great Barrier farmer Allan Mabey said access was an issue on his little island.

"I don't agree with it. I just see problems caused by the public abusing it."

During summer people often gained access to his farm via beaches and wandered around.

"It's a safety issue as well," Mr Mabey said.

But Fish and Game New Zealand director Bryce Johnson said the stance taken by farmers was anti-New Zealand. He said Fish and Game wanted fair and reasonable access rights and would work on a statutory code of conduct surrounding access with provisions for prosecution.

It was time the Government dealt with the issue after having it on the back burner for the past two elections.