Press Release:

Federated Mountain Clubs calls for the government to fund the Mackenzie Country Trust.

Dunedin, 12 May 2013

Trampers and mountaineers call on the government to establish and fund the Mackenzie Country Trust, proposed by the Mackenzie Shared Vision Forum today to protect biodiversity and tussock landscapes on 100,000 ha of private land in the Mackenzie Basin.

“The idea behind the Trust has taken over two years’ effort by farmers and conservationists working together and is a real win-win for both conservation and farming”, says Federated Mountain Clubs Vice-President and Forum member Peter Wilson. “Without the Trust, the Mackenzie Country’s iconic landscapes and recreational opportunities would have been subject to many years of debate and argument, with no real shared solution in sight”.

The Mackenzie Shared Vision Forum, representing some 22 individuals and groups, and sponsored by local MPs and local government, has worked hard over 18 months to arrive at a consensus that provides a way forward to balance the interests of conservation and development in this hotly-contested landscape.

“Finding a way forward through the numerous intertwining issues in the Basin has not been easy, and discussions have taken some time, but the end result is a novel solution that should stand the test of time”, says Mr Wilson.

“The Mackenzie Country is a landscape that inspires us all, and a place that reminds us of our heritage as New Zealanders. The budget requested from Government to establish the Mackenzie Country Trust is a small but worthy investment to maintain this special landscape”, Mr Wilson added.

For further information contact:
For more information:
Peter Wilson
vicepresident@fmc.org.nz
(021) 151 3486
www.mackenziecountry.org.nz

Photo: Sue McKee, Hutt Valley Tramping Club – FMC is a sponsor of the Kea Conservation Trust