An outdoor recreation group is planning to lobby the government to buy a high country station in the Mackenzie Country, to extend access to a neighbouring national park.
Mt Cook Station sits on the east side of Tasman Lake and is being sold by the Burnett family after 151 years.
Lake Pukaki and Ben Chau Range near Mt Cook Station Photo: AFP
The station was an important entry point to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, Federated Mountain Club executive member Jan Finlayson said, and her group wanted to see that access improved.
The group was writing a letter to Prime Minister John Key asking the government to buy the station for its recreational values.
"This is an important entry point to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and in practice the gate is closed," Ms Finlayson said.
"Access is Clayton's access only, so we now have the chance to open the gate and potentially keep the farm running at the same time.
"Mt Cook Station after going through tenure review has been split into freehold blocks and conservation areas. Quite a substantial area was peeled off for its conservation values and that's all accessible to us now, but... you must get through the freehold chunk and that's the difficult bit."
Ms Finlayon described the station as a gold mine for recreation.
"Tramping, mountaineering, tahr hunting... there's kayaking. There's also potential for accommodation, I think, to take place up there."
A hiker admires Lake Pukaki and Ben Chau Range, en route to Mt Cook Station. Photo: AFP
She questioned what would happen if a New Zealand or overseas buyer purchased it.
"If it was an overseas buyer I think the Overseas Investment Office would be able to negotiate an access agreement which would be better than what we have. If it does go to a New Zealand buyer, it could be screwed down just as tightly as it is at present."
The letter would be sent in a few days, she said.
