2nd May 2007
NZDA makes this submission on behalf of our members, and in the interest of other deerstalkers and pig hunters generally, especially those in the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) region.
NZDA requests to be heard in support of this submission.
NZDA makes this submission on behalf of NZDA’s Waikato branches and members. It concerns the major 400% increase proposed in EW biosecurity environmental costs and levies over the coming 5 years, and the damage done to our members’ recreational hunting by EW’s indiscriminate aerial 1080 drops, both in terms of deer and pigs killed to waste, and stand-down periods of 6-9 months because of poisoning of the meat.
NZDA branches in EW’s region include: Waikato (Hamilton), South Waikato (Tokoroa), Te Kauwhata, Thames Valley, Te Awamutu, Taupo, and the Te Kuiti Pig Hunters’ Club. These members are available to work with EW to assist in operations where wild meat can be harvested.
Concerns: Biosecurity: Regional Pest Management Strategy Consultation and Expenditure
Background: NZDA is participating in the EW Draft Regional Pest Management Strategy consultation. We are concerned that this consultation has been inadequate. The main areas EW intend to protect as “high value ecological sites” are not defined, and will be defined according to what EW unilaterally decides. So comment on them is not possible. Also, no cost benefit analysis was supplied with the draft RPMS, and was not available before the brief closing time for submissions.
Also, EW gives itself sole authority to determine almost anything it decides to do in the RPMS. So the consultation on the Strategy is very much “Trust us”. This is not consultation at all, as EW has not set out what it intends to do or how.
NZDA on behalf of its Waikato branches, clubs and members, who pay rates to EW, is also concerned that the EW RPMS has elevated (wild) deer and feral pigs into full fledged pests. This is in spite of them being highly valued by regional communities as wild meat for the table, and as a recreational hunting resource.
NZDA Requests: There is no need to levy rates to cover EW killing these animals to waste, when regional and community groups are willing to control them for recreation and food at no cost. EW is destroying a significant community food asset by its RPMS actions.
2. NZDA Concern: We are very concerned that the “Environmental pest management” item in EW’s budget will increase (page 150) from this year’s estimated $2.54 million to $4.628 million next year (an 82% annual increase), and to $11.769 million 5 years hence (2012/13), a 450% increase in 6 years.
Given there is almost no meaningful information available in the EW RPMS justifying this expenditure, or showing a need for it, NZDA opposes any increase at all from rates and any other source, over the life of this Plan.
NZDA Requests: Freeze future expenditure on Environmental Pest Management at its present level ie $2.54 Million, or less.
3. Deer, Pigs DOC’s Responsibility: With regard to deer and wild pigs, these are the responsibility of the Department of Conservation (DOC) under the Wild Animals Control Act. There is no need for EW to barge in and do DOC’s job for it. DOC is well funded for biodiversity matters. NZDA opposes this waste of EW ratepayer levies, by duplicating DOC’s work.
Deer and feral pig By-kill and stand-down times from EW’s Aerial 1080 programme:
EW’s Bovine Tb aerial 1080 programme kills both deer and pigs, both of which can be and are harvested by our Waikato regional members.
Requested Action: NZDA asks that EW use means of severely limiting this by-kill, especially in recreationally valued hunting areas eg Forest Parks, public land, Hancock (formerly CHH) managed pine forests, where deer and pigs are present eg Tokoroa forests.
NZDA also requests that before EW carries out indiscriminate aerial 1080 drops, it holds meaningful consultation with the recreational public as to why these drops are needed, and how EW intends to minimise adverse by-kill of deer and feral pigs, and limit the stand-down period on recreational hunting from the drop.
Hugh Barr, National Advocate