27 April 2008
This hearing was held at Kaikoura on Thursday 24 April 2008, and was a useful information sharing exercise.
Martin Heine represented the DG, Nina Soloman the Conservation Board, Rod Witte, Community relations, Jim Herdman, represented the South Marlborough Area Manager, David Hayes.
NZDA Concerns and matters arising:
1 The lack of adequate information from DOC for judging the proposal. The public could not assess the value of the proposal without DOC info on how DOC intended to manage the proposed Park, and what DOC thought the benefits would be.
2 NZDA saw ability to work constructively with DOC on big game animal management as a significant reason for the Park, given the need to control goats, pigs, possibly deer. Recreational hunters may well be the main users of the Park, and therefore one of the main beneficiaries. Jim said DOC already encouraged Marlborough NZDA with helicopter assistance to shoot goats.
3 Public Vehicular Access: The main vehicle route into the Clarence Reserve area is from SH 70, via Bushy Saddle. DOC told me it allows hunting and 4WD parties only 5 vehicle permits each weekend. So public vehicle access is significantly restricted at present. Public access to the proposed park on the north bank of the Clarence is also non-existent, without permission from relevant landowners.
4 Inland Kaikouras: There is very little land north of the Clarence River in the proposed Park. The only two potential areas are the Mead area (which lacks public foot access), Mt Gladstone POL (not yet PCL). NZDA considers these should be added. There also may be land coming from Tenure Review in Clarence Pastoral Leases cf the 1982 Land Settlement Board study. Pastoral leases in the SE of the Awatere Valley that have yet to go through Tenure Review are Awapiri, : Camden, Middlehurst, and Middle Hill (NE Seaward Kaikouras). Only Middle Hill is in TR.
5 Sixty year grazing lease on the South Clarence: Initially the joint purchase of the Clarence Reserve Pastoral Lease (by LINZ and Nature Heritage Fund) was aimed at some of the better grazing land being freeholded. However this has now become a 30+30 grazing permit. The recreational public has public access. But hunters have to also be OK-ed by the Muzzle grazer, the Nimmos. DOC approaches Nimmos consent when hunters apply.
From a hunters’ perspective this is probably a good thing. Outside the Permit area, only DOC permission is required.
6 DOC hunting maps etc:
a) George and McLean (North Seaward Kaikouras): Access at George Stream, and McLean Stream from Lower Clarence Road.
b) Clarence Reserve Hunting Area: Shows the Muzzle grazing lease area, huts and 4WD route past Warden Hut. There are 4WD routes shown up and down the Clarence.
DOC gave me copies of these two maps.
7 Purpose of Conservation Parks: DOC staff disputed that Conservation Parks were primarily for recreation, in spite of S 19 (1) (b) of the Conservation Act (“facilitate recreation”).
8 Rare species not identified: The Forest & Bird representative created the impression every yard of the proposed park was covered with rare and endangered Marlborough species. This is not the case. One important task for such a Park would be to identify where rare species are. DOC hasn’t done this yet.
9 Name of the Park: The eleven submitters were generally not in favour of the proposed name. I supported having a dual English (Kaikouras) and Maori name – better reflects our dual heritage in a bi-lingual nation. The Ngai Tahu person representing the Board may or may not have been impressed for the arguments for a name change.
10 Other speakers: CORANZ (Tony Orman) called for no aerial 1080 in the proposed park, and for an enlightened attitude of management/harvesting by DOC since deer and chamois have been there for almost as long as Europeans and were an established recreation resource.
He also criticised the lack of mention/recognition of the Kaikouras recreational attributes and that under the Conservation Act, Section 6 (e), DOC was obliged to manage for recreation as well as conservation. He said that encouraging recreation was important re the obesity epidemic sweeping the country.
Forest & Bird (Debs Martin) wanted all native species protected. Said F&B wanted to work with the hunting community re controlling wild animals.
Conclusion:
Well worth NZDA presenting, and a valuable opportunity to interact with DOC Marlborough. Opportunities for nearby branches – Marlborough, North Canterbury, Wellington, Nelson, Hutt Valley, to hunt in the area (Clarence Valley). DOC South Marlborough has some people sympathetic to hunters.