The Southland District Council (SDC) has been ordered to pay costs of $300,000 to Te Anau Downs landowner Peter Chartres following an Environment Court hearing in April (2022).

The SDC had sought a ruling to prevent the further clearing of indigenous vegetation on Te Anau Downs Station, however Chartres maintained he had done nothing wrong.

The Environmental Court subsequently ruled in Chartres favour.

Chartres said he was relieved that the SDC's application for enforcement orders against him had been declined and was pleased that the Court had ordered the council to make a substantial contribution to his legal and expert witness costs.

"The actual costs to me, the Te Anau Downs farming operation and my family have been far greater than what can ever be recovered through the legal process."

"We remain deeply disappointed in the heavy-handed approach taken by the council throughout this process as well as the extreme and incorrect interpretation and implementation of RMA and District Plan rules."

"We hope that this case results in some internal review of practices and processes", Chartres said. 

SDC chief executive Cameron McIntosh said the council accepted the judgment following what had been an “incredibly challenging” case.

“This has highlighted the difficulties of operating in the realm of the Resource Management Act and associated government regulations."

“While it is the responsibility of councils to follow up on complaints made by members of the public, there are no winners here.”

“In the New Year we intend to raise these matters with the Ministry for the Environment - Manatū Mō Te Taiao to highlight the complexities of the situation.”