Astute readers of TRM’s blog on the Tongariro River names of pools were quick to point out that on the official 1955 Government Survey map, which named all the established anglers’ pools of the Tongariro River, was the declaration: ” One chain Right of Way on foot along each bank from mouth to junction with Whitikau Stream.” So…..?

Back in the good ol’ days Tongariro River anglers could drive down the TRB (True Right Bank looking downriver) of the lower Tongariro River to the Delta where an anglers’ camp was located. This was closed down when the lake was raised in 1942 by the installation of control gates on the Waikato River outlet at Taupo. Prior to that most trout fishing activity was confined to the lower river.

This is an important declaration for river anglers. Back then, well before the changes resulting from the Tongariro Power Scheme damming the upper river, the river flowed naturally at about double the present controlled flow. Back in the 1920’s the upper river was difficult to access and most of the river fishing was confined to the lower river.

So what is the Queen’s Chain? It has become a common and mis-understood term for strips of publicly owned land next to the foreshore, rivers and lakes, initially set aside for access but also increasingly used for conservation.

The chain refers to an early surveyor’s tool made of 100 links, a total of 66ft or 20m. Some self appointed experts say it is a myth that among Queen Victoria’s instructions to New Zealand Governor William Hobson in 1840 were orders to reserve such strips around the whole coast, lakes and rivers.

This “Queen’s Chain” of recreational conservation land was referred to elsewhere – i.e. For the Tongariro River it was referred to in the historical overview of the treaty settlement by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1995 they noted: (ref 2.4.4)

“The Tribunal sought further information from the Department of Justice on the subsequent use of the lands included in the Turangi East site. We were informed that an area of 647.325 hectares (1598 acres) known as Mangamawhitiwhiti Farm had been sold by Treasury to Landcorp on 1 April 1987 and that ‘Justice has never been advised of this property sale nor did it receive any revenue from its sale’ (D3). Excluded from the sale was a strip of land along the east bank of the Tongariro River, reserved for conservation purposes. Up to 1987, this land was part of Hautu Prison Farm (also known as Tongariro Prison Farm).”

Requirements to reserve chain-wide strips along water margins did not come from any royal decree to create “Queen’s chains”. Instructions from Chief Surveyors first required these strips on navigable rivers. Legislation in 1892 required strips on the coast, large lakes and rivers more than 10 metres wide.

Crown land sales to companies and State Owned Enterprises have increased the amount of water margin strips available for public access or conservation.

Marginal strips are the lands along the coast, river banks and lake margins that the Crown has retained when it granted or sold land. They have had various names in the past. They are the major part of lands colloquially referred to as the “Queen’s Chain”. If you read into it all you will realise what an ass the law really is. All Tongariro River anglers need to know is that they have full approved foot access up and down both sides of the Tongariro River banks. If anyone questions it tell them SWMBO and King Charles 111 gave you full approval. Then they will back off…