New Zealand couple reject developers and gift 900 hectare property to the nation

New Zealand couple reject developers and gift 900 hectare property to the nation

By Lucy Jones  December 1st, 2020

A win-win for people and the planet!

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A couple from New Zealand's stunning Otago region have gifted their giant 900 hectare property to the nation. Dick and Jillian Jardine rejected offers from developers to buy the land, deciding instead to hand the property over to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust for "the benefit and enjoyment of all New Zealanders".

The Jardine's patch of heaven is nestled between two of New Zealand's most famous landmarks. The lush green farmland stretches from the base of the Remarkables mountain range (which you may recognise from Wolverine and The Lord of the Rings) to the edge of Lake Wakatipu.

Jillian Jardine told the New Zealand Herald that the family chose against selling the land in order to preserve this iconic and biodiverse piece of the New Zealand countryside.

“We thought about this idea and it just stuck so it feels like the right thing to do,” she said. “We want to keep it as it is forever, we don’t want buildings all over it or housing, there’s so much housing going in … we want to be part of saving something.”

The national trust said that preserving open spaces in the region is "hugely significant for the Wakatipu area and wider New Zealand".

"Open landscapes in the Wakatipu basin have come under increasing pressure from subdivision and commercial development driven by the twin pressures of population growth and tourism," the trust's chair, Bruce Wills, said in a statement.

“But the wide-open landscapes of the district are the very values that have attracted both tourists and new residents to the area.”

The Queenstown-Lakes District surrounding the Jardine's farm is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. Local property owners include PayPal founder Peter Thiel and the very difficult to impress Shania Twain.

By gifting their land to the nation, the Jardines have ensured that all New Zealanders (and visitors to the country) will be able to enjoy this beautiful part of the world now and for many generations to come.

Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes. 

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Lucy Jones

Lucy started her career working as a writer and editor in print and digital publishing. She went on to create content for Australia's leading sustainable fashion platform while completing her Master of Cultural Studies. Lucy spends her downtime at the beach, crocheting and hanging out with her cat Larry. She believes words can change the world and is stoked to help Planet Ark spread the message of positive environmental change.

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