Hypocritics over Poronui

I wish to express my disgust at the article written in the Salient which appeared on the date of 2.10.75 concerning the issue of 'El Rancho Poronui.' In my opinion the writer and the majority of people who have put their efforts into this campaign against Poronui, are the armchair hunters and trampers of this country who are completely hypocritical in their ideas upon the bush areas of New Zealand.

On the one hand they are full of disgust at the conditions of 'road-end' [unclear: parks] and huts brought about by the ready access of vehicular traffic, and praise the terrific beauty of the beech forests and tussock river flats, and their unspoilt nature, which are present in the Oamaru Valley which Poronui backs onto. And on the other hand they are crying out for road access into one of the North Islands most scenic corners, this access would allow private land rovers and trail bikes up the Oamaru and down the Mohaka Rivers, and happen this definitely will as nobody walks where they can ride! And the land rovers with private shooters in them are numberous in the Taupo region.

This to me is the issue. I use the area, I do not sit in my armchair and spout about Yanky Land Owners stopping New Zealanders using New Zealand roads. Access is not blocked by the Americans! Access is, and always has been present either by the method stated in the Salient article over Mt Telringa or alongside Poronui The route over Telringa taking not ten hours and the walk alongside Poronui, which is almost all flat going takes only 5 hours. Both walks are very pleasant and provide ready access to a small corner of the Kaimanawas. Not as the Salient article calls it "one of the only easy access valleys into the Kaimanawa Forest Park". Rather, access seated on your arse in a Rover, into a riverbed, which forms a boundary to the park. The statement that trampers and shooters have met with persistant hostility when passing through the farm, is nothing new, ask any cow-cocky if he likes those guys with rifles walking across his land, let alone driving across it with Land Rovers with spotlights and pig-dogs.

Federated Mountain Clubs I feel should know better, their precious road would mean yet another encroach onto our too small bush areas. Ok they object to the principle of access being blocked. Well let's see them get access to the Kaimanawas in near the Prison Farm or somewhere on that side of the park somewhere useful, why waste all this verbal bullshit about wealthy Americans? Make New Zealand, New Zealand owned but where's the sanity in a road that none of the locals want? I have spoken with numbers of people who use the valley frequently and few want this road opened up! Ah yes, about our deerstalkers (they have been seen in the valley during the roar) they are well known for wanting to be able to shoot deer from the hut doorstep, how long do they think this will last once the road is opened up? The Forestry Hut in there is luxury accommodation, and so far has been respected, how long will this last if it is made a road-end' hut? So, I feel these bodies can't see the wood for the trees if they got away from their social clubs and cars and land rovers and walked (if they still know how) into the Oamaru Valley via the Kaiapo they might learn the reason why I enjoy he solitude of this incredibly beautiful area, and why I dread the thought of a road ending up through it.