The Department of Conservation's new Otago conservator did not say as much, but she appears determined to usher in a new era in her department's relationship with farmers.
Marian van der Goes talked about developing relationships, looking for mutually acceptable solutions and working with outside parties such as landowners to achieve conservation gains, comments that would be welcomed, particularly by high-country farmers.
Many pastoral lessees view Doc as having embarked on a decade-long land grab, which put them under pressure to give up land, while whole-property purchases for conservation drove up land prices.
Equally, they have viewed the National Government's high-country policy for Crown pastoral leases as a new direction, and Ms van der Goes said that was reflected in some telling her they wanted to meet to resolve differences.
New government policy included the end of the discretionary consents process, the greater use of covenants to protect significant inherent values (Siv), rents based on earning capacity and encouragement for lessees to enter tenure review.
It appears to be based on an acceptance by the Government that the economic use of land underpinned the local and national economy and, provided it was used in an ecologically sustainable way, many conservation goals could be achieved without the need for Crown ownership.
Some of the change was driven by financial constraints, but Ms van der Goes said it was policy and Doc staff were obliged to follow it.
"Public servants have to be aware of current government policy, but keep in mind the prime role of Doc in tenure review is to provide advice on Sivs."
It was an important role which yielded information all landowners wanted to know.
Ms van der Goes said she believed in developing relationships with other agencies and people who were in the same business as Doc, of land and resource management, and that included landowners and local authorities.
"That's about protecting brand New Zealand, and most other people we deal with are in that business too, but they might come at it from a slightly different angle."
Merino wool farmers, for example, relied on the backdrop of natural countryside to promote their products, but there were other examples of joint conservation projects, such as the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, the work of the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust and covenants.
"I do see this as an increasingly sensible thing for us to do."
By talking and listening, she said both parties were likely to get an outcome close to what they desired and it could also yield other solutions.
Asked how farmers should view their relationship with Doc, Ms van der Goes said as a neighbour.
"We are neighbours to a good many farmers and we would wish our relationship to be those of good neighbours, so that's about being mutually respectful of each other's position and situation, and being prepared to address issues that might be over the fence."
Part of that was Doc investing in infrastructure upon which local communities could develop tourist ventures, such as the new Oteake Conservation Park on the ranges straddling Central Otago and the Waitaki Valley, and the $600,000 upgrade of facilities at Nugget Point.
Ms van der Goes, a former ecotourism operator, said Doc-funded facilities not only provided new business opportunities, but encouraged tourists to stay longer, which benefited the community.
"You have to give them a reason for stopping and Doc has an important part to play in the provision of those facilities."