28 November 2009
This submission is by the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA). NZDA is the national body of recreational deerstalkers and other big game hunters. We have 52 branches and a number of hunting clubs throughout New Zealand. We have 7800 members, and have been actively advocating for deerstalking and recreational hunting, and running deerstalker training courses, trips, conferences etc since 1937. NZDA also maintains the ethical side of hunting by maintaining ethics for hunting, including fair chase, and strongly encouraging harvesting of animals taken.
There are a significant number of NZDA branches who can hunt in the Ben Nevis South-West Otago area, including: Southern Lakes (Queenstown/Alexandra), South Otago (Balclutha), Southland (Invercargill), Gore, Otago (Dunedin) and Upper Clutha (Wanaka) who would be interested in hunting this area should it be allowed to carry big game. There are many other recreational hunters who would also be interested.
1 Summary of the NZDA submission:
NZDA supports the Proposal, because of the significant amount of land being repurchased, the landscape and scenic qualities of the land being repurchased, and its ability to support big game hunting (deer, possibly wild pigs) should WARO operations be prohibited, as they usually are on open uplands in South West Otago.
2 The Proposal:
Ben Nevis is an Otago lease of 14,561 ha, in the lower end of the Nevis Valley, on its western side. It stretches from the Nevis River (eastern boundary), to the crest of the Hector and Remarkable Mountains (western boundary) between the Left Branch of Doolans Creek (northern boundary), to the southern watershed of Commissioner’s Creek. Its highest point, Ben Nevis (2,307 m) is the highest point of the Hector Mountains.
It adjoins the Remarkables Conservation Area in the west and north, and the proposed Nevis Valley Conservation Area to the east. The Nevis Valley is notable for its historic gold-mining and settlement relics, dating from the 1860 gold rushes. Many of these are on the valley floor of the Ben Nevis lease. It is also notable for its spectacular alpine scenery, and for the river’s trout fishery.
The lessee, Pioneer Generation, is also the lessee of Craigroy lease, on the adjacent eastern side of the Nevis. Pioneer is the proposer of a hydro lake that would flood much of the valley floor on these two leases, including many historic gold-mining sites.
3 Recreational values include potentially recreational hunting, if the area is WARO (Wild Animal
helicopter Recovery Operations) free. Also tramping in the alpine natural environment, and better fishing access to the Nevis River. Deer will never be a threat to native plants in this area, as if numbers were considered too high, recreational hunters could readily reduce them. The two largest proposed repurchased areas, CA1 and CA2 are readily accessed from the Nevis Road.
4 Main Repurchased areas:
4.1 CA1 – High land to the crest of the Range:
The largest area, CA1 (8,807 ha), stretches from the lower farmable land to the crest of the Hector-Remarkables Mountains. This area has nationally and internationally important scenery (glaciated mountains and a high open montane valley). It would be a highly valuable addition to the conservation lands in the Hector and Remarkable Mountains.
A farm track running up Commissioner’s Spur, from CA2 would also provide public access for walking, cycling and probably also 4WD vehicles in appropriate conditions. Much of the area has been voluntarily retired from grazing since 1980.
4.2 CA2 (950 ha) – lower lands near the valley floor:
This area has the Nevis Road running through its eastern area, so gives ready access by the public to CA2 and CA1 behind it.
5 Public access easements for recreational hunting:
i) a-b-y-c-d – for foot, horse, non-motorised, motorised and with a dog or firearm, provided the hunter has a DOC permit: Allows the public to progress down the true left of the Nevis to Doolans Saddle, and other conservation land further down the Valley, and to the Lower Nevis. NZDA supports.
ii) c-e for walkers, horses, non-motorised person powered and persons with a gun or dog who have a DOC permit: Road/track access from the north front of the property to the top of CA1. NZDA supports, but requests the farm track be allowed to be used by reputable recreational clubs and branches of NZDA, to give faster access, and the ability to better transport out any animals taken.
iii) f-g-hfor walkers, non-motorised person powered and persons with a gun or dog who have a DOC permit: Gives access from h on farm tracks up the leading ridge to Ben Nevis. Availability to have vehicular access for hunters on this route would be desirable.
iv) Commissioners Spur: There is a farm track up much of Commissioners Spur, in the re-purchased land CA1 and CA2, to 1800 m. It would be helpful if this track could be used by recreational hunters in appropriate conditions.
v) Access to the Nevis River: There are also a number of access ways provided to the Nevis River. Given the importance of this river for angling and kayaking, more access should be provided.
6 Conclusions:
1) NZDA supports the Proposal. It provides for repurchase of scenic and landscape areas with significant potential value also for recreational hunting (deer) if WARO operators are excluded, and other outdoor recreational pursuits.
2) Recreational hunting access would be improved, and recreational hunting encouraged, if some concession for 4WD vehicles to use of farm tracks in appropriate conditions was available as discussed.
Yours truly
Hugh Barr
National Advocate
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association