Matt Lauer has found himself at the center of another controversy, this time on the other side of the world.
The former Today host purchased a $9 million long-term lease for Hunter Valley Station in February 2017, a 16,000-acre parcel that stretches from the mountains down to the shores of Lake Hawaea and Lake Wanaka on the country’s south island.
As part of the deal, Lauer was required to allow public access to a national park that surrounds his land and is only accessible via the gravel path that runs through his property.
Lauer, 60, has been allowing a minimal amount of people to pass through, but now some local organizations are asking for more access for those hunters and hikers looking to travel to Hawea Conservation Park.
The disgraced news host has responded by refusing, while his lawyer argues that the government should pay his client a six-figure sum if they are going to demand him to allow unrestricted access to the land.
He’s back: Matt Lauer, 60, gave his first interview since he was fired by NBC to Radio New Zealand while trying to fight back against what he claims is misinformation regarding public access to a road on his $9M property (Lauer’s New Zealand property above)
Lake down under: The disgraced NBC host bought a long-term lease the 16,000-acre property in February 2017 which stretches from the mountains down to the shores of Lake Hawaea and Lake Wanaka on the country’s south island (larger shot of Lauer’s property)
Kiwi kounsel: He nearly lost the property after his firing due to a ‘;good foreigner’ test that allows the government to take away the land holding of any non-residents whose behavior is deemed unacceptable (the home on the property above)
No new friends: Lauer is now being asked to allow public access on a road that runs through his property and leads to Hawea Conservation Park, a request he is refusing and his lawyer said would require a six-figure compensation (the home with mountains behind, which can be used skiing)
Country road: The gravel road that runs through the property (gravel road above) which is currently in dispute due to its potentially dangerous conditions according to Lauer
‘Hunter Valley Station is a large scale high country property positioned at the head waters of Lake Hawea in the Queenstown Lakes District. With over thirty kilometers (18 miles) of lakefront access encompassing both Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, the property also encompasses approximately thirteen kilometers (eight miles) of frontage to the Hunter River,’ reads the listing for the property on Sotheby’s International Reality.
Least popular: Lauer was last in New Zealand in October (above in June 2017)
It is a working farm, and there are also several, huts and a five bedroom lake front homestead on the property.
It’s total size of approximately 25 square miles makes it slightly larger than Manhattan, the island Lauer has been avoiding since he was fired in November.
He has also not been to New Zealand since October, but plans to return next month.
Lauer, in a rare interview, spoke with Radio New Zealand on Tuesday and said that the uproar over access was essentially nonsense.
‘This easement that’s been proposed is being proposed to solve a problem that does not exist, and that’s the misinformation that’s out there and it’s out there on purpose,’ said Lauer.
‘Show me the logs of the people, of Walking Access [Commission] and other people, of all the people who they say have been denied? They don’t exist.’
Lauer said that so far 100 people had been granted access to pass through Hunter Valley Station when they called ahead and only three were denied use of the road or path.
He also said that there are logs to back up his claim, and the few people who were not let through were only banned because of farming operations underway on the day they hoped to use the path.
‘I don’t know what the problem [is] they’re trying to solve because we have never denied people access who have gone through the correct procedure and called the station and said they were prepared to be on the road and properly equipped,’ explained Lauer.
He then pointed out that he would have to worry about his own liability should any person be allowed to travel through on their way to the park.
Lauer’s land: Lauer said that so far 100 people had been granted access to pass through Hunter Valley Station when they called ahead and only three were denied use of the road or path (satellite view of the property above)
Let’s Moo-ve: Lauer also revealed that he has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into the land to increase the stock, s was required by law
Baa-d move: Lauer said that the cars that travel down the road would come within 30 meters of his livestock, which he saw as a potential problem (livestock on the property above)
Graze and gaze: Lauer next took issue with the fact that the road would not be safe for all travelers, a notion that the radio host scoffed at saying New Zealanders were used to the conditions
Home on the range: The farm operation (above) requires a crew to be at the farm at all times, and it is those individuals who have been allowing access to the road by individuals who call ahead of time
Valley: The aptly named property also has a large valley that runs through it, which is where Lauer could ski if he wished in the winter (above)
‘The easement itself would create a problem. All of a sudden we would have no way of knowing who’s back there. One of the directors of one of the groups said it would be carefully managed, well by who?’ asked Lauer.
‘Is there going to be someone from Walking Access Commission sitting on the side of the road, or are the people that farm that property going to have to sit there and count every person who goes back there and what’s going to happen when they get back there and they don’t come back out? Are we supposed to stop farming that land and go look for them?’
I believe the groups that are behind this are in some ways unfortunately taking advantage of some difficult times I’ve been through over the past six months and I think they see me as an easy mark.
Then, in a rather bold move, Lauer his out at the changes he claims the Overseas Investment Office are trying to make to how much access should be allowed at the property.
‘The fact is I bought this property after going through that process and being told one set of circumstances exist, and now a year later they’re coming to me and saying “let’s change the rules of the game.” I think anybody would find that disturbing,’ said Lauer.
‘In the year and a half or year plus that I’ve owned it, I’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve the property and now a year later they come and say “oh wait a minute, we granted you this lease under this set of rules. We’d like to change the rules.” I don’t think that’s fair.’
He later stated: ‘I believe the groups that are behind this are in some ways unfortunately taking advantage of some difficult times I’ve been through over the past six months and I think they see me as an easy mark.’
stunning vista: The park that Lauer’s property is surrounded by is considered the jewel of the south island by many locals
Green acres: The property was purchased by Lauer after he fell in love with the island during a fishing trip with a friend
Ain’t no mountain high enough: Lauer was not able to use the property in the wake of his NBC firing as the government launched their investigation into his behavior (view from the kitchen window of the home above)
Strolling or shooting; Hikers in the park (above) would like to be able to walk down Lauer’s road while hunters would bring cars to transport their kills
Emerald isle: The massive size of the land was meant to provide Lauer with privacy he has suggested, and that would disappear with these new access allowances
Odd layout: The land covers a lengthy and broken up area that borders two lake and includes mountains (outlined above)
Lauer’s strong words came after OIO had just ruled he could keep his property despite being fired from NBC for sexual misconduct.
The country has a ‘good foreigner’ test that allows it to take away land from any person whose morals or behavior are in conflict with those deemed acceptable by the government.
I have not demanded a cent. I am going through the process, which by the way, is supposed to include me which has not included me. But I am going through the process one step at a time, the same way I went through the OIO process, one step at a time. I did everything they asked me to do.
A six-month investigation was launched after Lauer’s misconduct became public, and he is only allowed to still lease the land through his LLC Orange Lake because he is an American resident and not the individual handling day-to-day farming operations.
‘After investigating the matter and taking legal advice, we have reached the position that we have insufficient evidence at this time to take proceedings against Mr Lauer for breach of the condition,’ said Land Information New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Policy and Overseas Investment Lisa Barrett in a statement last month.
‘However, the OIO will continue to actively monitor the matter should further information come to light. In addition, the OIO has made it clear to Mr Lauer of his continuing obligation to remain of good character as a condition of his OIO consent.’
As for his claims about OIO, a copy of the agreement obtained by DailyMail.com very clearly states: ‘The Consent Holder must continue to permit the current non-commercial access over Hunter Valley Station Road by walkers, hunters, fishers, nonmotorised cyclists, and horse riders, on terms to be determined from time to time by the Consent Holder and its lessees or agents, acting reasonably and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Pastoral Lease, and having regard to any officially designated use or purpose for the Land.’
Another section reads: ‘Where WAC or another party applies to the Commissioner for a grant of an easement for public walking access over the Sawyer Burn Track between Kidds Bush and Sawyer Burn hut and between Sawyer Burn hut and Sentinel Peak, where such public walking access is required to cross the Pastoral Lease, the Consent Holder must actively and diligently support such application at no cost to the applicant for the easement.’
And after the sale, a document release by OIO read: ‘Orange Lakes has agreed to support and facilitate public access to several important sites on the Land however the Commissioner ultimately has to grant consent to any public access arrangements.’
This has not stopped Lauer from saying he would ‘explore’ the idea of revceiving money for access while shooting down claims he has already demanded compoenaation.,
‘I have not demanded a cent. I am going through the process, which by the way, is supposed to include me which has not included me,’ he told Radio New Zealand.
‘But I am going through the process one step at a time, the same way I went through the OIO process, one step at a time. I did everything they asked me to do.’
Counterpoint: ‘This track is narrow, impassable in many areas, requires a number of creeks and the Hunter River to be traversed and can easily effected by the adverse weather often experienced,’ said Lauer’s lawyer of the road (farmhouse above)
The palms: ‘The track is the only means by which stock can be moved within the property . In short the track is only appropriate for properly equipped vehicles and drivers who are experienced in such conditions,’ added the lawyer (looking at Lauer’s property from across the lake)
Cannot hear anyone now: ‘There is no cell phone coverage for the length of the track,’ added the lawyer (gravel road above)
Majestic landscape: Laywer Graeme Todd was also very blunt about compensation, saying it would require six-figures at the very least to cover all the costs that would come with allowing access (Lauer’s property top left)
DailyMail.com spoke with Lauer’s attorney, Graeme Todd, who was able to highlight what he sees as the problems with the agreement.
The fact is I bought this property after going through that process and being told one set of circumstances exist, and now a year later they’re coming to me and saying “let’s change the rules of the game.” I think anybody would find that disturbing.” In the year and a half or year plus that I’ve owned it, I’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve the property and now a year later they come and say, “oh wait a minute, we granted you this lease under this set of rules. We’d like to change the rules.” I don’t think that’s fair.
‘Hunter Valley Station is a unique property in that there is one access track (known as the Hunter Valley Station farm track) which runs for 40km from the end of the public road at Terrace Creek ( just beyond the farmstead ) to Scrubby Flat at the head of the station,’ said Todd.
‘This track is narrow, impassable in many areas, requires a number of creeks and the Hunter River to be traversed and can easily effected by the adverse weather often experienced. There is no cell phone coverage for the length of the track.
‘The track is the only means by which stock can be moved within the property . In short the track is only appropriate for properly equipped vehicles and drivers who are experienced in such conditions.’
He later said: ‘Given the length of the track (and the size of the station ) it is not possible for the condition of the track or the public use of the same to be monitored daily.
‘It will be impossible for the sub-lessee to discharge its legislative responsibilities as again those using the track will not be required to report to the sub-lessee before accessing the property. Even if the easement was amended to require such it would be a significant burden on the sub lessee.’
Todd was also very blunt about compensation, saying it would require six-figures at the very least to cover all the costs that would come with allowing access.
‘At the end of the day there is no need for the easement,’ argued Todd.
‘Finally, if the government thought the access was so important the property was on the open market for a number of years before my client purchased it . One has to question with all this apparent interest why was there no proposal to purchase the same.’