Archive of Bruce James Mason
1949 –
New Zealand conservation and recreation researcher and advocate
Mountaineer, tramper, cross country skier, sea kayaker, survivor of self-built aircraft, mountain hut restorer, skipper of classic motor-sailer, electrified cyclist
Professional History
Ceramics technician and quality controller, McSkimming Industries 1967-1969
Soil science technician, Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 1969-1974
Department of Lands & Survey - National Parks & Reserves Ranger, 1975-1982.
Public Lands Coalition (Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, NZ Fish & Game Council)
Federated Mountain Clubs) 1982-1992 - researcher.
Public Access New Zealand 1993-2003 - founder, researcher and spokesman
Advocate and writer 2004-2024
Former Institutional Involvement
President Otago Tramping & Mountaineering Club
Executive member Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ.
Highlights of Experience
Undertook private study tour of North American national park and forest management 1974. On return introduced Minimum Impact Code to New Zealand.
Primarily responsible for planning, negotiating, and establishing new park complex 1975-82 (Otago Goldfields Park).
Influential in effecting changes to conservation and Crown land legislation, and resisting undesirable amendments.
Uncovered massive Crown land misallocation to State-owned Enterprises leading to successful national campaign by NGO's in 1987 (450,000 ha reinstated to public ownership.
At forefront of two national campaigns for protection of the 'Queen's Chain' around New Zealand's coast/lake shores and rivers (1989-90 & 1993-96).
Spearheaded walking group that opened up public access over 18 obstructed public roads on the Otago Peninsula, through direct and political action (1990-94).
Publications
1975. Back Country Boom. NZ National Parks Authority, Wellington.
1981. Otago Goldfields Park. Landscape 10 pp. 11-14. Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington.
1982. Skifield Potential in the Wakatipu District. Diploma in Parks and Recreation, Lincoln College,
1984. Ahuriri-Birchwood Case. Forest & Bird Vol 15, November.
1986. Earnslaw Station- A Case History. Forest & Bird Vol 17, May.
1987. Proposed Skifield Development: Duncan and Mackenzie Basins. Report for presentation to Land Settlement Board. Part 1 Part 2 Duncan Part 3 Duncan Part 4 Part 4A Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8
1988. Outdoor Recreation in Otago, Volume One, Central Otago's Block Mountains. Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, Wellington. Rec Plan Vol 1 Part 1 Part Two. Part 3.
1989. Outdoor Recreation in Otago, Volume Two, Silverpeaks & Otago's Alps. Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand. pp 1-54. pp 55-107
1991. Destocking and Surrender of Alpine Crown Lands in the South Island High Country. Public Lands Coalition.
1991. Public Roads, A Guide to Rights of Access to the Countryside. Public Lands Coalition.
1991. Public Access to Land. In Citizens' Guide to Environmental and Conservation Law. Environmental and Conservation Organisations, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, Wellington.
1992. Public Access along the Queen's Chain and Public Roads.
1992-2000. 'Public Access' Nos. 1 to 13. Public Access New Zealand. PANZ
1993. The Principle of "Partnership" and the Treaty of Waitangi: implications for the public conservation estate. PANZ.
1994. Treaty negotiations and involvement of affected parties. PANZ.1994. Private Management of "The Public Interest" : Freehold with covenants etc., vs. public ownership of the South Island high country - a review of private management and ownership. PANZ.
1994. Landcorp Farms and the SOE option for Ngai Tahu claims settlement: Summary of research on SOE lands that could be used in settlement instead of the Greenstone Valley & public reserves. PANZ. Part 1. Part 2.
1995. Being fair-minded while avoiding the global guilt trap
1996. Tenure Review: Greenstone, Elfin Bay and Routeburn Crown Lands: Draft proposal to Commissioner of Crown Lands for allocation of natural lands to DOC and farmland for freeholding. PANZ.
1998. Public Roads: rights of way for all. PANZ.
1998-2003: main contributor to a huge web site providing information and advice on public access to New Zealand's outdoors. Public Access New Zealand.
2003. Improving Public Access to the Outdoors. A strategy for implementing Government's election policies. PANZ
2007. Critique of 'Roading Law as it Applies to Unformed Roads' (Hayes, 2007a). Recreation Access New Zealand.
2024. Both Versions of the Treaty of Waitangi. A restorative interpretation. NEW EDITION
Family Archives
Kenneth David Mason 1945 – 2017
Memoir
Cover Forward
Ch 1 Ghost Mentor
Ch 2 Richard H Kakapo Part 1 Part 2
Ch 3 Nicols Falls
Ch 4 Wild West Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Ch 5 Silverpeaks Part 1 Part 2
Ch 6 Dunedin Skyline
Ch 7 Tomahawk Lagoons Part 1 Part 2
Ch 8 Geological days Part 1 Part 2
Ch 9 Making the Call Part 1 Part 2
Ch 10 Otago Peninsula land war Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Ch 11 Opening Spiers Road
Ch 12 Domestic & Employment
Ch 13 Cross country skiing Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Ch 14 Antarctica Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
Ch 15 Moores Bush Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Ch 16 Quarantine Island Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7
Ch 17 Cloud Forest connection Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9
Ch 18 Notable associates Part 1
Misc. Part 1
Peter John Mason 1955 –
OTMC’s ‘Dispicable Action’
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 [BJM]
David Hamilton Mason 1915 –1981
Dunedin Stadium
Archives by Subject
Treaty of Waitangi
Ngai Tahu Claim
Mt Hikurangi
Otago Goldfields Park
Federated Mountain Clubs
Public Lands Coalition
Crown Land Allocations
South Island High Country
Queen's Chain
Otago Peninsula Walkers
Public Roads
Walking Access Commission
Public Access New Zealand
Recreation Access New Zealand
Foreshore and Seabed
Big Hut and other Restorations
Photographic Collection
Peter Child slide collection
A lifetime in the outdoors
North America
Antarctica