Tuesday, 12 August 2025 10:55

Purist problem

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: The sudden departure of Jim Ward, manager of Molesworth Station for 24 years, highlighted some major dysfunction in the way conservation estate is managed in this country - the biggest problem, as the Hound sees it, being idealogues who harp on about "taonga" and use all means possible to block sensible commercial operations on conservation land.

The word on Ward's departure is that he was unhappy with DoC's lack of action on Molesworth's Wilding Pine problem, and the government considering planting pines there, a plan that's "under review".

If the purists stop Molesworth being run as a working farm, it will become a breeding ground for weeds and pests, as noted by its neighbours.

Contrary to the bleating from Forest & Bird etc., changes that ease the way for sensible concessions on DoC land can't come quick enough!


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