New Zealand couple hand over gorgeous stretch of land to the nation

A New Zealand family is gifting 900 hectares of land to the nation ensuring the significant landscape and biodiversity on the property is protected. The gift is hugely significant for the Wakatipu area and wider New Zealand as the area has come under pressure from developers.

The iconic Queenstown landscape at the foot of the Remarkables Range will be given to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) in 2022 by Dick and Jillian Jardine, owners of Remarkables Station. It will ensure that this lovely landscape will remain unspoilt forever. The gifted property is freehold land, currently leased as a working farm, and that will continue for the foreseeable future.

A landscape of the Remarkables Range in New Zealand — The iconic Queenstown landscape is at the foot of the Remarkables Range © QEII Trust

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. However, the wide-open landscapes of the district are the very values that have attracted both visitors and new residents to the area. “This land has been in the family for nearly a century and we have endeavoured to improve and enhance it over this time,” said Dick. “Having QEII as the caretaker of this property gives us the comfort and assurance to proudly pass over this gift for all New Zealand to enjoy and appreciate.”

According to QEII, the gift of this property also comes at a time when protecting biodiversity and promoting a connection to nature is more relevant than ever. "It’s exciting for QEII to be taking ownership of this beautiful place, but we also recognise the huge responsibility on our shoulders to ensure the property is looked after for future generations and in line with the wishes of Dick and Jillian,” says Bruce Wills, chair of QEII. “It is also an exciting opportunity for us to demonstrate the integration of pastoral farming, conservation, public access and landscape protection on such a prominent and accessible site.”