The Chair of the Wellington Natural Heritage Trust, Colin Ryder, said today that the Trust applauds the decisions of the Minister of Conservation, the Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Hutt City Council to submit a joint bid for the purchase of Baring Head and congratulates them on their success.

"Most of all," Mr Ryder said, "we would like to record our thanks to the private benefactor who made a very generous financial contribution at exceedingly short notice, after being approached by the Trust. This proved crucial to the final outcome."

"The addition of this iconic area to the East Harbour Regional Park is the result of the hard work by a lot of people and a recognition by decision-makers at the three levels of Government that it has unique values that must be protected", Mr Ryder said. "This understanding was reinforced by representations from a diverse and large range of community groups as well as members of the public.

"The Trust would also like to thank Boffa Miskell, Forest ands Bird, Eastbourne Community Board, Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Southern Environment Association and Wellington Botanical Society, among many others, for their enthusiastic support for this timely acquisition."

Mr Ryder said "the Trust challenged the agencies to show vision and make the right decision. The community can see for itself that they answered that call."