Enough Is Enough, Close The Gates

Tuesday 17 Jun 2003 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Rural

ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today said he would close the gates on his property to public access, in direct response to the Labour Government's constant abuse of landowners' property rights.

"Rural Minister Jim Sutton, and his Government, has thrown his lot in with Fish and Game - this is the last straw," Mr Eckhoff said.

"Fish and Game has conducted an unrelenting campaign against landowners - particularly the dairy industry - despite the overwhelming generosity that the rural sector has extended to the public. Enough is enough.

"Mine is one of the voices demanding high environmental standards from the farming industry, I cannot stand idly by and watch rural New Zealand turn into a playground for recreationalists and preservationists.

"While I deeply regret the need to exclude the public from my property - many of whom I would call friend - I believe that it will only be through landowners exercising their guaranteed right of exclusive use that the Government and its NGO masters will be brought to heel," Mr Eckhoff said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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