Locals, anglers rue loss of top fishing spot

Rangitaiki River. Photo / Alan Gibson

Access to one of New Zealand's top fishing rivers has been closed - upsetting local tourism operators and anglers throughout the country.

The Rangitaiki River, southeast of Rotorua, is world renowned for its long stretches of good fishing, with some of the biggest wild trout in the North Island.

But visitors to the river, deep in the Kaingaroa Forest, have all but dried up after the Timberlands forestry management company put severe restrictions on access, citing safety concerns.

The river has hosted world fly fishing championships, and anglers spent up to five days exploring evening rises along rarely visited runs.

For a decade, fishing guide Peter Hill took anglers from Japan, the United States and all over New Zealand along the river, often catching trout heavier than 10kg.

This summer, however, he will be fencing farms in the area, trying to string together enough jobs to get by.

"It's broken a lot of hearts," Mr Hill said.

He could not understand the decision, he said, especially because fishermen with permits were least likely to cause damage to the forest.

"No dogs, no firearms. Nobody minded getting permits, but suddenly they pulled the pin."

The issue wasn't just local, Mr Hill said - it was taking away resources from New Zealanders. "The more we let these things happen, the more it will get taken away."

Murupara, an isolated settlement in the middle of the forest, has been shocked by the closure.

Maori warden Queenie Ataiti said people who went in the forest for kai and firewood were being served trespass notices. "How are we supposed to teach our children these things? Our grandchildren?"

There were many youth in the town getting into trouble, and fishing and hunting were among the few acceptable alternatives they had, she said.

Local motel owner Arna van der Linden said business was suffering. "We're hurting badly. It's just ridiculous. We can't get them to talk to us."

Tauranga Anglers secretary Mike Jarvie said the river was a brilliant fishery, but the issue was bigger than that.

Pioneers had migrated from Britain to New Zealand to get away from closed access and privileges, he said.

"The whole country is losing it, just so somebody can make a few bucks. You've got to look at the future."

Fish and Game eastern region manager Rob Pitkethley said the river, which has strips of public land along its edges, had 9000 visitors a year.

But once the forest passed from Crown ownership to iwi after a Treaty settlement two years ago, the management company began to restrict access despite iwi wanting it to stay open, he said.

Fish and Game was still waiting to hear from Timberlands about negotiations and it was not sure who was pushing to block access.

Timberlands forest risk manager Colin Maunder said there had been no legal changes around access because of the Treaty settlement, but the company had safety concerns after 13 arsons in the past year and tractors and signs had been shot and vandalised.

Road access is open during daylight hours at weekends if the fire danger is low. But about four fine days in a row would close it.

The road is expected to be closed most days this summer.