Rights of public access to the foreshore : a study of public awareness and opinions

Abstract

This study examines the way a sample of Christchurch residents use the foreshore for outdoor recreation, how they perceive their access rights and what they think about proposed foreshore and access initiatives. It responds to recent events that have highlighted the importance of access rights to New Zealanders, specifically the foreshore debate. The Land Access Ministerial Reference Group report released in August 2003 was an additional catalyst. The study has three objectives: 1. To investigate the public’s use of, and need for, access to the foreshore; 2. To gain an understanding of what the Christchurch sample population know about their access rights to the foreshore; and 3. To determine what opinions the public hold about the Government’s proposed public domain foreshore land tenure and the ‘solutions’ suggested by the Land Access Ministerial Reference Group (LAMRG) report. A questionnaire survey of 300 Christchurch residents was conducted in December 2003 to investigate these objectives.