Firstly, I wish to apologise for being unable to attend your conference in person, however if the 2009 version is anything like previous conferences I know it will be a truly memorable occasion.
I wish to thank the organisers of the conference for the opportunity to make this statement and I also want to acknowledge the very constructive work of Dr Hugh Barr as NZDA’s National Advocate. Hugh is a great asset to your organisation and a more tireless and stubborn advocate would not be found anywhere.
Despite the efforts of many people over many years the recreational hunting community has been seriously under-represented, not only in Parliament but also in policy-making within the Department of Conservation. UnitedFuture believes government and DoC need to be responsive to the interests of all stakeholders, not just the convenient selection of ideologically motivated groups that have tended to dominate the landscape in recent times.
This is why I believe 2009 will be looked upon as a seminal year for big game hunting in New Zealand. After many years of political pushing and pulling, negotiation and compromise, I am proud to say that the Big Game Hunting Council is almost a reality.
The Big Game Hunting Council was born out of the Deer, Chamois, Tahr and Pigs Ministerial Panel set up by UnitedFuture as part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement negotiated after the 2005 election with the previous government.
One clear message from the Panel was the need for greater co-ordination of New Zealand’s many and varied big game hunting interests. The Panel recommended the establishment of an organisation to do this while also providing it with the ability to advise the government on effective management of big game animals.
The previous Government however was unwilling to give the Big Game Hunting Council the necessary statutory authority to make it an effective organisation with the influence needed to effect real change for hunters.
A change of government has seen a refreshingly less-ideological approach to big game animals and provided us with the opportunity to embed the Big Game Hunting Council as a statutory authority and provide it with the necessary tools to influence governmental decision–making.
Currently an establishment committee, made up of five representatives from the various sub-sectors of the big game hunting community, including NZDA life member Bill O’Leary, is working at a set of recommendations, which will be consulted upon later in the year.
Without pre-supposing the outcome of the Establishment Committee’s work and the upcoming consultation process, it is envisaged that the Big Game Hunting Council will be an overarching body, covering the entire sector, and able to operate cooperatively with existing organisations, such as NZDA. It will be owned by its membership and be self-funded; although this does not mean the imposition of a licensing regime on big game hunters. Such funding may instead come by the way of membership fees, industry levies and contracting to undertake hunter management.
The role of the Big Game Hunting Council will be specifically:
I encourage all of those with an interest in big game hunting and the management of deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs to participate in the upcoming consultation process. This is your chance to have a say on the future management of the sport you love!
Once again, I sincerely thank NZDA and its hardworking administrative team for the outstanding advocacy of hunting in New Zealand and the opportunity to address you, albeit in absentia, at your conference today. Best wishes for the rest of the 2009 hunting year.
Hon. Peter Dunne
Leader, UnitedFuture