United Future New Zealand recognises the unique role outdoor recreation and leisure activities play in the New Zealand way of life. Despite this pivotal role, outdoor recreation has been the poor cousin of conservation for the past decade. The time is ripe for new policy that is built on a base of national pride and New Zealand's unique identity as a great place for enjoyment of, and recreation in, the outdoors.

New Zealand is unashamedly a nation with strong environmental credentials. However, we cannot rest on our laurels, and if we are to maintain our reputation then we need to be the leader of the pack, rather than a follower. United Future New Zealand's outdoor recreation policy dovetails with our other policies. It promotes strong conservation values, reinforces our environment policy, is consistent with our education policy and promotes wellbeing. It will also engender confidence, self-esteem and pride in New Zealand's heritage.

United Future will:

• Establish a separate department or agency with specific responsibility for protection and promotion of outdoor recreation. No organisation is currently dedicated to these tasks and initiatives that expand the range of opportunities available to New Zealanders.
• Guarantee access to all Crown lands and natural resources important for recreation (e.g. introduce legislation to protect access to State Owned Enterprise land)
• Maintain and enhance existing Queen's Chain provisions, where appropriate, so that all New Zealanders have access to waterways and coastline
• Review the Hillary Commission's role in promotion of outdoor recreation activities, particularly for young people
• Ensure that public fisheries and wildlife reserves are not captured by exclusive access arrangements that deny the general public free and reasonable access
• Develop a healthy lifestyle campaign with outdoor recreation as a key plank
• Encourage, promote and provide funding for development of green areas in towns and cities
• Work with local government to maintain and develop outdoor recreational areas, for example creation of bush tracks, seating, and sports areas
• Encourage the inclusion of outdoor recreation, conservation and heritage issues within school curricula
• Bestow sanctuary status on those areas with a specific outdoor recreation purpose, for example observation of bird or plant life.

United Future Parliamentary Office: Bowen House, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Email: Phone: (04) 471 9410