President Alex McIver, executive members, club representatives and hunters. Thank you for the opportunity to address the 2009 Annual Conference of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association.
When I got the delegation for Associate Minister of Conservation and responsibility for hunting related issues, I was very pleased. These are issues that are close to the heart for rural people and that’s where my roots are. I myself have a firearms licence and have an interest in those matters that affect recreational hunting. Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to be invited to open a new Conservation Park, Te Kahui Kaupeka, in the Canterbury high country and get an overview of the surrounding land.
Out there hunting is a way of life and it was a privilege to talk to the farmers and discuss hunting policy among a number of other things.
I understand that there are some hot topics that bring out the real passion in hunters, such as bull tahr or land access. The National Government sees hunting as a valid recreational activity and I am keen to see some progress made on reinforcing the value of recreational hunting while still retaining the value in our natural heritage. There is a seat for hunters at our table. We can achieve a lot if we work together.
I wish to emphasise this point. This Government’s style is to work co-operatively with others on complex issues, and I will be expecting the Department of Conservation to be working in a positive way with the hunting sector. In the same vein, I would urge your organisation and hunting interests in general to work in a positive way with the Department of Conservation, which I believe is the most effective way of getting things done. Certainly, I will be doing what I can to foster a good relationship between the NZDA and the Department.
There has been some progress since National took office, with the establishment committee working toward a plan for the Big Game Hunting Council. I understand that NZDA is represented on the establishment committee by Bill O’Leary – I have met Bill and was very impressed by his thinking. The Board, when it is formed, must speak on a wide range of hunting related issues with one voice. To assist this, DOC has given $200k to the establishment committee to ensure that the debate is carried to a point where there is consensus about a way forward. I do not expect this to be a straight forward process and I applaud the work that has been done to date.
At the same time as the BGHC was recommended, the short term Wild Animal Control Advisory (WACA) Committee looked at how DOC engaged with hunters. Committee experts told me that the underlying systems were okay, but DOC could improve the way it conducted relationships with hunters. A number of recommendations were made for culture change on both sides – for DOC and hunters. The committee also recognised that there are a lot of examples of good working relationships between DOC and NZDA (e.g. pest management on Stewart Island; wapiti in Fiordland, tahr management, sika in the central North Island, to name just a few).
These efforts have encouraged me to formalise the policy around mature bull tahr. The Department of Conservation will not be targeting mature bull tahr during any official control work within management units except in National Parks. This means any bull tahr outside a National Park with an obvious mane will be counted but not shot and the effort will go into shooting females. This policy ensures a win for both conservation and hunters if we work alongside each other. Healthy habitats mean healthy herds.
One of the key recommendations of the WACA Committee was for DOC to appoint a National Hunting Advisor. I am pleased to announce that this recommendation has been put into action with the recent appointment of Brent Beaven to the position. Brent has spent the last ten years as the Biodiversity Manager for DOC on Stewart Island. He has worked closely with NZDA (and many other groups) in the establishment of a liaison committee that has successfully instigated possum control on Stewart Island and allows ongoing input from a diverse range of groups into pest management on Stewart Island. Brent’s approach is considered best practice and I am confident that he will be able to bring this inclusive approach to his new role.
[I understand that Brent was keen to be here today, but his wife is due to give birth to their first child today]As well as encouraging and supporting best practice relationship models, the Hunting Advisor will be looking at potential improvements in the permit system and improving website information - actions that should make hunting easier and more accessible.
I want to stand back a bit and look at the context in which all these debates are going on. The political and global economic climate will determine how we go forward on all of these issues and I want hunters to be aware of the implications of a global recession and how that affects your hunting opportunities.
National wants to take New Zealand down a path of strong recovery, and key to our future recovery is our abundant natural capital.
Our country’s majestic landscapes, special places and unique natural heritage; our outdoors image, and historic and cultural heritage all help define us as a distinct nation and unique people. These things are deeply embedded in the New Zealand psyche and are matters of national pride.
We have built a $400 million conservation department responsible for managing one third of the land, the seabed and foreshore, protected marine areas, and all marine mammals, native animals, birds and freshwater fish, and also managing the threats to these natural assets. That’s not to forget the recreational opportunities out there too.
Given that taxpayers meet the cost of this, it seems logical they should know what contribution to their prosperity they are getting, without discounting the intrinsic values, from the conservation dollar.
If there is a conservation benefit, then we should know about it, welcome it, and manage for it.
The wider benefit, or conservation economy, encompasses the broad range of assets that contribute to our quality of life and prosperity. It includes the value of ecosystem services such as water, soil, climate regulation and pollination; direct economic returns from tourism, and the socio-economic benefits attached to recreation and peoples’ physical, mental and cultural health.
Yet, support for conservation is seen by the mainstream as a worthwhile social cost rather than a necessary investment that influences our prosperity. It is seen as a discretionary spend that is affordable in good economic times, or when the opportunity cost of conservation is not too great.
This indicates that the cost side of the equation is well understood and accepted but the investment side is not.
The task ahead is to build equal understanding of the conservation economy without losing the importance and strength of the ethical argument around intrinsic value. What’s needed is an approach that appeals to the middle ground.
In the New Zealand context, whatever derives from this must apply to the two major economic drivers of farming and tourism. There is little dispute that they remain the cornerstones of New Zealand’s economy. But that does not imply business-as-usual.
Managing for a clean, pure approach to environmental management is a New Zealand incorporated issue.
Conservation sits within that broad scope of environmental management and needs to explore its role in these issues beyond the exclusive appeal to charismatic birds, pretty places and happy outdoor enthusiasts.
The most easily understood connection between conservation and the economy is through tourism.
New Zealand is known and marketed for its natural environment and the things that derive from that - outdoor adventure, cultural identity, fresh food and quality wine, a peaceful country and safe place to visit.
That means public conservation land, with its national parks, distinct landmarks and wildlife, is a significant part of the asset base for tourism, an industry that makes up about 10 percent of the economy and 18 percent of export earnings.
It is critical to ensure that tourism operates sustainably with the best possible balance between tourism business needs and conservation, to maximise the benefits for New Zealanders.
Conservation helps underpin an industry that has massive impacts on our way of life and standard of living and if a case for the conservation economy is to be made, it must encompass that core work of protecting species and places. Together, these things form natural capital on which to build strong, growing economies and improve social wellbeing.
There is a wealth of evidence that natural ecosystems, such as those protected on public conservation land, provide a range of ecosystem services such as air quality, water quality and yield, soil regeneration and stability, pollination and nutrient cycles. New Zealand had the foresight to set aside a greater proportion of land for public benefit than any other country in the world, so we are well-placed to exploit a head start.
New Zealand can take the opportunity to account for our dependence on natural capital and build that in to a sustainable economic approach, entrench New Zealand as a brand leader for a clean, pure environment, and manage it as an investment in our present and future prosperity.
So, in a practical sense, what does all that mean to recreational hunters?
It means hunters should be objective on issues that affect the viability of economic opportunity that, in the long run, benefit the whole of New Zealand. But at the same time, hunters should not tolerate a reduction in the quality of the environment that they value.
In September this year there is a review of the Wild Animal Recovery Operators (WARO) licensing structure. I urge recreational hunters to be involved if you have concerns, but be mindful that we need to find a constructive way forward.
Heli-hunting has arisen in the intervening years since the original issue of the WARO licences and applications have been made by a few operators to include heli-hunting as part of the WARO system.
There is a lot that hunters and DOC have in common. Let’s not lose sight of that and work towards shared goals as well as engaging in discussion over points of disagreement.
There is never anything lost in having a chat and I would strongly encourage you all to not be afraid to contribute to the policy debate. We will always listen, even if we don’t agree.
There is an opportunity here and I’m confident that the introduction of the Big Game Hunting Council and a national hunting advisor will be of great benefit to all parties.
Thank you.
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association