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New Zealand's newest conservation park, Hakatere, in back-country Mid-Canterbury, is likely to expand to become the largest of its kind.

It includes historic Hakatere Station, which was bought by the Nature Heritage Fund for $7.2 million, with settlement on the pastoral lease next month.

The freehold will stay in private ownership until July.

The Canterbury conservator for the Department of Conservation (DOC), Mike Cuddihy, said the park was the second-largest in Canterbury after the Lake Sumner Forest Park in North Canterbury and the fourth-largest in New Zealand.

When more land was acquired through land tenure it was likely to double in size, making it the biggest in New Zealand outside national parks.

The centrepiece of the park is Lake Heron, a popular back-country fishing and recreation lake.

Carter said the planet was under pressure, but in New Zealand there was still the opportunity to preserve special areas for future generations.

"This huge new park is a special place ? a landscape of clear streams and red tussock, of braided riverbeds, wetlands and alpine habitat where a host of rare native species can be found," he said.

Philip Todhunter, who sold 10,000ha of Clent Hills into the park in 2005 and yesterday welcomed guests on behalf of runholders, said the area had been used by Maori, pastoralists, prospectors and recreational users.

He said key pieces of land had been bought for the park and there was a great spirit

of co-operation between parties.

"This area has a great future," Todhunter said.

The park comprises 19 areas of conservation land, including Hakatere.

The Mount Hutt and Mount Potts skifields are within the park, and the upper reaches of the Ashburton Lakes Basin are a gateway for hunters, ski-tour operators and climbers.

There are huts throughout the new park and tramping tracks, including the popular Mount Somers Walkway.

The public will have access to the pastoral lease area of Hakatere.

Todhunter, who farms Lake Heron Station, said many parts of New Zealand were special, but back country Mid-Canterbury had a particular charm.

The Ashburton branch of Forest and Bird has welcomed the park's announcement.

Chairwoman Edith Smith said the branch had pushed for the protection and recognition of the wildlife, natural habitat and scenic values of the Ashburton Lakes and high country.

The beauty of the area had been recognised by the Natural Heritage Advisory Group, which recommended sites for World Heritage status.

Forest and Bird welcomed a DOC plan to do a full survey of plant and animal life in the park.

SOURCE: THE PRESS
ARTICLE: By JOHN KEAST