Consultation for South Wairarapa District Council’s Paper Road Access Bylaw 2025 is now open. 

Beyond the Cape Palliser Lighthouse is an unformed paper road. This stretch of coastline crosses both privately owned Māori land and Crown land managed by the Department of Conservation.  

While the unformed paper road passes through this private land and Crown land, and leads to a dead end, it continues to be accessed by members of the public.  

This area has been subjected to years of vandalism and the destruction of native flora and fauna through the use of 4WD trucks and quad bike owners at the distress of the whānau and hapū of Ngāti Hinewaka. 

In April, Council’s Strategy Working Committee agreed that the most appropriate way of addressing the problem was to introduce a bylaw to restrict access to the public. The Committee thanked Haami Te Whaiti and Leighton Hale of Ngati Hinewaka Hapū for engaging with council and bringing the issue to their attention. Members noted that making good decisions relating to the environment that supports te āo Māori (the Māori worldview) emphasised the importance of the relationship with our Te Tiriti partners and the value of the bylaw.  

The bylaw would look to protect the land by restricting access by pedestrians (both on foot and bicycle), motorcycles and motor vehicles other than the landowners or other government agency such as the Department of Conservation. It would also allow for enforcement and penalty measures for members of the public who commit an infringement offence.  

Haami Te Whaiti shares that the land is deeply scarred. “In order for the land to heal, it is necessary to close it to public access and work with Council to restore the land. In the future, we can consider what kind of access is needed for the safe and respectful passage over our land by the public”.   

Engagement with Ngati Hinewaka Hapū and the local Ngawi community ahead of consultation has been both informative and productive. 

Council prepare bylaws for the community when we think it’s necessary to:  
 

• protect the public from nuisance and damage to landscape and significate areas;  

• maintain, promote and protect public health and safety, or  

• minimise the potential for offensive behaviour in public places. 

While the paper road provides access to Aorangi Forest Park which is used for hunting and tramping, there are alternative routes to access this land outlined on the DOC website.   

Feedback is welcome until 19 August by visiting haveyoursay.swdc.govt.nz/paper-road-access-bylaw 

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