12. Hon DAVID CARTER (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Land Information
Why did the Government commission the report from Donn Armstrong on the land tenure process, and when will it be released to all interested parties?
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Land Information) Link to this
The Government commissioned the report as part of its work on rentals for high country pastoral leases. I recognise the interest in the report and hope to be in a position to release it next month.
Why did he tell the South Island high country Federated Farmers conference on 9 June that he would release the report by the end of June; why has he failed to do so?
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Madam SPEAKERI had hoped to release the report before now. The delays have been caused by my desire to seek legal advice to ensure that the provisions of the Land Act and the Crown Pastoral Land Act are correctly applied.
Why did he write to the Primary Production Committee on 27 June stating that he would make the report available to the select committee by the end of July—and again, he failed to do so?
The reason for the delay is the same. I say again that the reason for the delay was that I sought legal advice to ensure that the provisions of the Land Act and the Crown Pastoral Land Act are correctly applied.
What is so unpalatable in this report that it prevents him from releasing it; or is there some other reason that he is not prepared to make it available to the high country farmers?
There is no hidden agenda here, but I am determined that the Crown correctly apply the provisions in the law to ensure that we charge and receive the legally mandated rents.
R Doug WoolertonWhat action does the Government intend to take if indeed the report finds that the method of land valuation used so far in the land tenure process has either been flawed or unfair?
I am, as I said in reply to the prior question, of the view that the department has no choice but to apply the rent-setting provisions in the Land Act and the Crown Pastoral Land Act.