Officials Propose crowd funding for access to the land of American star Matt Lauer

But the Walking Access Commission and the Department of Conservation want more concessions from the American, with unlimited access to 40 km loosened. Road along Hawea Lake that would lead visitors into Hunter's Wild Valley.

Lauer and his tenants refused – saying that they were not refusing access, but they wanted it to be controlled. They expressed concerns about public safety and tracking hikers, hunters and tourists on the 6500ha property, which is in a tourist hotspot.

To get out of the stalemate, the officials asked the Commissioner of Crown Lands for an easement, or right of way. Lauer is entitled to compensation – which could reach millions – and he can take legal action.

DOC, WAC and other recreation advocacy groups were disappointed that the OIO did not insist on public access to the Hunter Valley Station Road when they approved Lauer's request to buy the lease in March 2017. Lauer made his position known when his representatives met with local outdoor enthusiasts the previous year.

Officials began preparing their application in January. DOC General Manager Lou Sanson is even involved in the process, sending e-mails requesting updates.

January 11, he sends an email to staff and Eric Pyle, CEO of WAC, offering his support

"The mountain bike [access] would be the minimum, it is too long to walk. Access to the valley, "he wrote to Pyle a few weeks later.

Ric Cullinane, director of operations at WAC, responded and noted that granting an easement when the tenant did not consent would set a precedent.

"If the tenant does not give up compensation, and the" reduction in value "If the lease is high ($ 50,000, for example), it is unlikely that the Board will assume this cost, including a" political solution "and third party crowdfunding (eg Awaroa Bay.)»

More than $ 2 million raised by a large Givealittle campaign to purchase 7 ha of private beach at Awaroa Inlet, in the park National Abel Tasman.

MARJORIE COOK

Matt Lauer has modernized a road and opened public access to a campground near the entrance of his campaign station.

Civil servants did not develop what a "political solution" might imply, but the documents show that the Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage, was aware, and DoC staff prepared a departmental information document.

The records show that officials recognize that there are privacy issues. It was suggested to move the road to reduce "public disturbance" and build a new bridge, but they noted that it "would be very expensive".

The substance revealed that officials believe the compensation would be "tricky". Cullinane wrote: "The" optics "of taxpayers' money paid to a very wealthy American with a tarnished reputation are unclear."

Lauer's lawyer Graeme Todd stated that Lauer's company had opened and modernized Meads Road, a road to a DOC encampment, and access to the Sawyer Burn Trail to Sentinel. Peak.

Todd said that there is controlled access to the Hunter Valley Station Road.

"Since my client took over the property, the public has been authorized" [TRADUCTION] "We are not aware of any person who would have expressed concerns about unjustified access […] The public has the protection of OIO conditions that guarantees public access to the property.The only condition is that they must apply, but their requests can not be refused without reason. "[19659029HesaidthathehadnoideawhytheWACwasaskingforaccessThemaintenanceofthetrackhasalreadycostmorethan$50000andtheproposedeasementsuggestsfutureworkatsharedcost

"Given the length of the track and the size of the station, the state of the way or the public is not possible .. the use of the same thing should be monitored daily … this would be a significant burden for the sub-tenant. "

Todd said that it was "clear that there is political interference in what should be a non-political decision."

"In the end, it is not necessary that the servitude or the government, its departments and statutory bodies such as WAC, DOC and CoCL expose them to what will be considerable costs … if the government thought that access was so important – the property was on the market for several years before that my client does not buy it.We must question with all this apparent interest why was there no proposal for purchase [it]? "

A confirmed DOC spokesperson did not receive any complaints from members of the public who were denied access to the road, but the department supports the WAC servitude claim.