Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Kaka Conservation Park Celebrated

15 June 2005 - Invercargill

Contact: Dr Gerry McSweeney, High Country Spokesperson, 027 229 0444

The launch of Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Kaka Conservation Park today by Conservation Minister Chris Carter - which opens up the high country for public access - stands in stark contrast to Federated Farmers' 'lock it up' campaign, Forest and Bird said today.

"Forest and Bird joins with the people of Southland in celebrating the creation of the Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Kaka Conservation Park," said Forest and Bird's high country spokesperson Dr Gerry McSweeney.

Dr McSweeney said, "This is a landmark for conservation in Southland. Conservation Park status will also help safeguard back country and conservation values in the Eyre Mountains, renowned as a centre of biodiversity in the Southern Alps".

The Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Haka have their own native species of land snail, scree buttercup, and Australasia's only pink-flowered mountain daisy.

The heart of this area was allocated to Landcorp in 1987 for privatisation. It was later rescued for conservation following biodiversity surveys by Forest and Bird and other conservation organisations.

"Southlanders and Otago-ites treasure this area as a remote wild place and as somewhere to escape to for a quiet stroll or vigorous tramp amidst the grandeur of rugged peaks".