Greater Wellington intends to lease 25ha of land within Queen Elizabeth Park to Kapiti Pony Club for the purpose of grazing horses and other activities associated with the running of a Pony Club. The lease proposal concerns land previously known as ‘Transit land”, which is located at the northern end of the park, adjacent to Poplar Avenue (see map below).

Queen Elizabeth Park is classified as a Recreation Reserve and is owned by the Crown, but managed by Greater Wellington. The Queen Elizabeth Park Management Plan 2006 details how Greater Wellington will manage the park and its recreational, heritage and environmental values. The proposed lease area is classed as a future recreation zone in the management plan and the use of the area for horse grazing and pony club activities fits with the objectives of the management plan.

The lease will be granted for ten years (five years, with a right of renewal for a further five year term). The lessee will be permitted to erect structures necessary for the operation of the Pony Club on the lease area, subject to obtaining the prior written approval of Council. The Pony Club intends to use the area for grazing and pony club activities, such as running horse events and providing training facilities.

The lease would be granted under Section 73 of the Reserves Act 1977, which relates to the leasing of recreation reserves for farming, grazing or afforestation purposes. Before granting any lease under this section, the administering body is required to give public notice in accordance with Section 119 of the Reserves Act. This notification is to be published in the local paper and any person or organisation may object in writing within a month of the notice. Hearings may be requested by objectors.

Objections in writing will be received until Thursday 1 May. Please send your objections to Kapiti Coast Pony Club lease, Greater Wellington, PO Box 11646, Manners Street, Wellington 6412 or email to info@gw.govt.nz.