Thank you for your introduction John, it's a pleasure to be here today.

I'd like to acknowledge your fellow Board members, and welcome representatives of local government, recreation and tourism groups, and landowners.

I want to begin by congratulating the Walking Access Commission on its work to date.

The development of a draft National Strategy and Code of Conduct is a big step forward in clearing up some of the long-running confusion around walking access issues.

I know you'd all be interested in hearing what John's outlined today.

New Zealanders love the great outdoors - whether it's for hunting, tramping, or fishing; or for a trip to the beach or a picnic by the river.

It's the very reason I went farming on Banks Peninsula.

Part of our connection to the outdoors is secured through a unique legacy woven into our history - the Queen's Chain.

No other country in the Commonwealth has this legacy, and we have every right to be proud of it.

But because it's part legal fact and part myth, there is confusion about the rights of citizens and landowners over access to beaches and waterways.

One of the jobs of the Commission is to help clear this up, and I'm confident a National Strategy will go a long way towards doing this.

An enduring image of our national identity and culture is our high country farmer, a special ‘breed' of people.

These farming families make a special contribution to New Zealand and our landscape. So it's not unreasonable that they need certainty about the status of their property rights when it comes to walking access.

For too long, this hasn't been the case. Instead there's been a degree of confusion, mostly driven by an unfortunate emotional debate used by politicians and non-government organisations.

It is true that the passage of time and the interaction of different laws and regulations have resulted in a complex web of accessways to our beaches, rivers, lakes and mountains.

It is the Walking Access Commission's job to unravel this. As John said today, a key task is to ‘provide readily-available information on current legal access.'

It's this lack of easy information that has led to too much debate and division on the position of legal accessways.

Past talk of land-grabs and rights-to-roam have clouded the real issues - that is, the need to safeguard both private property rights and public property rights.

With the right will, a balance can be struck, delivering certainty to all parties.
I believe this is where the Commission's proposed project of a mapping system to make information readily available to the public will be really useful.

Outdoor enthusiasts will have easy access to information about where they can go, which should take the pressure off rural landowners feeling their land has been unjustifiably encroached.

This Government is a strong advocate of outdoor recreation.

It's an important part of our culture and national identity, but it's also an important part of our tourism industry - and tourism is crucial to this country. That's why our Prime Minister is also the Minister of Tourism.

John Key firmly spells out the Government's thinking when he says that our environment is a huge part of our brand as a country, and the way we sell ourselves to the rest of the world.

Almost half our country is set aside in conservation estates, parks, and reserves. That's a very important competitive advantage. We need to develop new tourism experiences that make the most of this in an environmentally responsible way.

A good example of this is the national cycleway. $50 million has been allocated over three years for the project.

It will create jobs in the short-term, and in the longer term provide a high-quality asset that will support regional businesses, and encourage domestic and international visitors to explore our beautiful country.

Undoubtedly our major draw card is our outstanding natural environment and we know that's why many people come to New Zealand in the first place.

They want to immerse themselves in it and are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to do this.

New Zealand is well established as an adventure tourism destination, but we've got to keep offering new experiences and coming up with new ideas to keep ahead of other countries.

Domestic tourists also need to be encouraged to explore their own backyard and holiday at home.

This is another important factor that the Walking Access Commission needs to keep in mind.

I'm really pleased to see what's at the heart of your proposed National Strategy - a need to create practical and enduring access that respects the rights of everyone, and sustains the environment.

That sums it all up. A Strategy that will leave landowners and recreational users in no doubt about responsible walking access to New Zealand's great outdoors.

When coupled with a Code of Conduct to promote a better understanding of the rights and responsibilities of access, your work is certainly on the right track.

I'm pleased that you're running a round of regional stakeholder forums - such as this one today. It's vital that you continue talking with as many groups and interested parties as possible.

I know the Commission is working on its relationships with the Ministry of Tourism, SPARC, and territorial authorities and this will be of enormous benefit.

I wish you well with the development of your Strategy and Code of Conduct and I am pleased to officially launch this work.

Thank you.