15 March 2010
The New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association is disturbed by vexatious and misleading comments quoted recently in the Christchurch Press, by vocal proponents of heli-hunting on public conservation lands.
The Association’s National President, Alec McIver, together with prominent members of three South Island branches, has been actively opposing the Department of Conservation at every turn, since DOC decided to issue interim permits for heli-hunting on public conservation land, in December 2009.
“NZDA is totally opposed to heli-hunting anywhere in the world, but especially New Zealand,” McIver says. “Heli-hunting is quite different from wild animal recovery, and is an inhumane, unethical practice which is against the law under current concession processes. We want to keep it that way and intend to lobby every board and advisory agency working with and for DOC, to ensure it gains no legitimacy in the New Zealand outdoors. In response to comments made by Mr Blair Chapman reported in the Christchurch Press of 5 March, on page A8, Alec McIver observes:
“At the stakeholders’ meeting, arranged by DOC in Twizel, there were only two heli-hunting operators in attendance. No other stakeholders that were pro-heli-hunting bothered to turn up. There was however an overwhelming opposition to heli-hunting present and vocal, and we are pleased that the Twizel meeting was of such interest to hunters.”
The Association further notes that a vote by the Canterbury-Aoraki Conservation Board, on a decision to look unfavourably at any amendments to the Mt Cook National Park plan, was unanimous, and appeared to take little time for the board to reach.
NZDA fully supports the Canterbury-Aoraki Conservation Board decision to oppose heli-hunting. The decision was not “misguided and irresponsible”, as Mr Chapman alleges. Mr McIver believes, “It is a well-informed decision based not only on the evidence we provided in submissions, but also on prior research which board members themselves appear to have done to support it.”
NZDA’s National Executive will be writing and talking to other South Island conservation boards shortly, presenting them with a comprehensive view of the potential damage which heli-hunting may do to remote alpine environments. The Executive, which represents all pertinent issues to hunting and hunters, at a national level, is set on having so-called ‘spot and drop’ hunting banned completely. This is where a helicopter pilot or guide sees an animal and simply drops the hunting client close enough to shoot it; a practice which Alec McIver finds repugnant.
The Executive will be working hard to ensure that all wilderness areas are excluded from any heli-hunting permits. Executive members are also intent on seeing that DOC’s attempts to tie heli-hunting permits to wild animal recovery permits, past October 2010 are frustrated, or defeated.
While he does not support the activity, Alec McIver is pleased with the rigour and depth of the review process undertaken by Canterbury conservancy so far. The Association does however expect to increase its pressure on this review and on officials and responsible and interested ministers very soon.
Please direct all further enquiries to:
Alec McIver, President, Ph: 07 349 4250 (work) 07 347 4380 (home) Or: Matthew Lark, Advisor to the National Executive, Ph: 07 377 1302.
21st December 2007
New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA) has joined the Rare Breeds Society of New Zealand in opposing DOC’s proposed destruction of the unique Arapawa Island goat breed, early in the New Year.
The Arapawa Island goats are a recognised unique breed, probably introduced by Captain Cook. Only a few are left on Arapawa Island.
“It is distressing that DOC had chosen the holiday period to carry out a Search and Destroy mission on Arapawa Island with the intention of wiping out this historic herd” NZDA spokesman Dr Hugh Barr said. “New Zealand’s historic introduced biodiversity is as important to us as our native biodiversity, under the Rio Convention on Biodiversity” Dr Barr said. “It is the basis of our agriculture, the industry on which most of our wealth as a nation depends. Very few native species have commercial value.”
“Yet we have the Department of Conservation, paranoid about exterminating anything introduced to the country, irrespective of the Rio Convention on World Biodiversity that New Zealand is a signatory to. It is disappointing too that the new Minister of Conservation, Steve Chadwick seems to have caught DOC’s xenophobic paranoia from her advisers after just over a month in the job.”
NZDA is calling for the Government to halt DOC’s extermination mission, and give due recognition to this rare historic breed, under the Rio Convention.
Further Info: Dr Hugh Barr, National Advocate, NZ Deerstalkers’ Assn 04 934 2244; 027 686 0063 hugh@infosmart.co.nz
Betty Rowe, Arapawa Island farmer, and Goats custodian 03 579 9032 walt.betty@xtra.co.nzwww.arapawagoat.comwww.rarebreeds.co.nz
27th November 2007
The New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association (NZDA) has welcomed the Southland Department of Conservation's decision to grant a 30 year concession for the fifteen hunters huts on public land on Stewart Island.
"This is a great decision for the many deerstalkers who come from all over New Zealand to hunt Whitetailed deer on Stewart Island" NZDA President Alec McIver said. "Stewart Island has been a popular destination for deerstalkers for many years, back to the days when there were only tarpaulin camps."
The huts have been built largely by volunteer deerstalkers from Southland for the Rakiura Hunters Camps Charitable Trust. They replaced run-down tarpaulin camps that were often an eyesore. The construction of these huts has seen a significant reduction in site degradation and rubbish at camp sites. The trust also makes a significant contribution to rat control around huts.
"Some three thousand recreational hunters visit Stewart Island annually, and hunter numbers are increasing. Recreational hunters are the largest recreational group using the back-country areas of Stewart Island" Mr McIver said.
Further information: Alec McIver, President, Hm 07 347 4380; Mob: 027 282 0770; Wk 07 349 4250; mceng@xtra.co.nz
John DeLury, Chairman Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust; Mob: 027 692 5338
6th November 2007
Forest and Bird is scaremongering with rumour and half-truths when it claims there will be “massive” damage to the environment if deer and wild pigs are managed as a valued resource instead of solely as pests to be eradicated, as at present, the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA) says.
Submissions on proposals to change deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs from pests, to also manage them as valued recreational and wild food resources, as is done in most other parts of the world, close today.
“For the last 30 years there has been no management or management plans by DOC to reflect the value of these animals to the public. Damage to public lands has been minimal, in spite of attempts by Forest and Bird and DOC to demonise deer” NZDA President Alec McIver said.
Forest & Bird have accused “a sector of the hunting community”of wanting big game animals managed for hunters’ benefit, at the expense of conservation.“This is not NZDA policy. So to whom are they referring?” Mr McIver said. “Most hunters are conservationists, and have a great love and appreciation forthe outdoors.”
“Recreational hunters want more co-operative management of deer, chamois, tahr and pigs, for the benefit of the whole community, while protecting the diversity of our wild lands” Mr McIver said. “Because DOC has a one-sided view of these animals solely as pests, it is incapable of more co-operative management, only in poisoning, killing or otherwise exterminating these valued animals.”
“Forest and Bird should try to be more co-operative, rather than demonising these animals and hunters, and preaching extermination. They could instead work positively with other stakeholders to develop better solutions for all” Mr McIver said.
Further information: Alec McIver, President, Hm 07 347 4380; Mob: 027 282 0770; Wk 07 349 4250; mceng@xtra.co.nz