A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is being drafted which could allow further public access on disgraced US television presenter Matt Lauer's Central Otago station.
Mr Lauer bought Hunter Valley Station on the northern side of Lake Hawea in 2017.
He passed the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) good character test, despite his employment as a presenter on NBC's Today Show being terminated after allegations of sexual misconduct within the workplace.
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Since then, he has been embroiled in a messy dispute to grant more public access to the land, which borders both Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, making it largest lakefront property in New Zealand.
The Department of Conservation, Land Information New Zealand and Mr Lauer's lawyer Graeme Todd issued a joint media statement on Thursday.
It states that "positive progress is being made on enhancing the public's understanding of arrangements for one of the ways they can gain access to the Hawea Conservation Park being via Hunter Valley Station".
A MOU is expected to finalised in a couple of weeks.
Mr Lauer's company Orange Lakes Limited has already opened up and upgraded some walking tracks, but locals say that's not good enough as they are having trouble getting access to the property, and want unimpeded access to the area.
Newshub.
