6 October 2005
Commissioner of Crown Lands
C/- Opus International Consultants Ltd
Private Bag 1913
Dunedin
Attn: Dave Payton
Fax (03) 474 8895 DD 03 474 8914
Email: dave.payton@opus.co.nz
This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated (NZDA). NZDA is the national body of recreational deerstalkers and other big game hunters. We have 57 branches and a number of hunting clubs throughout New Zealand. We have 7200 members, and have been actively advocating for deerstalking and hunting and running training courses, trips, conferences etc since 1937.
NZDA has a longstanding interest in the surrender of wildlands unsuitable for grazing from pastoral leases and pastoral occupation licences. Under New Zealand trespass laws, recreational hunters have often been locked out of hunting deer on the wildland parts of these tenures by the lessees, who keep the public wild big game for their own use or sale.
Pisgah Downs (4,280 Ha) southwest of Duntroon, stretches to the top of the Kakanui Range, and is also accessible from the Ranfurly side of the Kakanuis. It is also accessible off the Danseys Pass road. 1,694 Ha (CA1) of high altitude land is proposed for surrender, including Mt Pisgah, 1,643 metres, highest point in the Kakanuis. The land is of low land capability class.
A smaller area of 113 Ha (CA2) covering a steep gorge of the eastern tributary of the South Branch of the Maraewhenua River. 2,473 Ha of lower land is to be freeholded, subject to a conservation covenant of 124 Ha, to protect landscape and a gorge of an eastern tributary of the river, and regenerating native vegetation.
A public easement for foot, horse or non motorised vehicles powered by persons (eg cycles), which can also be used with vehicles by DOC for management purposes, gives access to CA2. Parking for 6 cars is to be provided at the start of the easement by the owner.
There is also a public foot, horse, non motorised or motorised vehicles, from the end of McKenzie’s Road for one km, to a parking lot for up to 6 vehicles. Then by foot or non motorised vehicle or horse for another 5 km to CA1. DOC gets to use vehicles for management purposes on the whole of this easement, plus another across the northeast boundary of CA1.
NZDA agrees that CA1 is primarily Class 7 and 8 lands not capable of sustainable farming.
In the only assessment of outdoor recreational characteristics and value for Otago, Bruce Mason, in “Outdoor Recreation in Otago – A Conservation Plan” Vol 1 (1988, Federated Mountain Clubs) assessed the Kakanui Mountains, including CA1, as having natural environment and open space character. (Map, Page 28).
A red deer herd, pigs and Chuka provide recreational hunting opportunities in the Kakanuis, and could be expected on the CA1 block at times. This surrender will add an important block of land on the crest of the Kakanui Range, with the potential to form a worthwhile sized conservation park, as further land is surrendered from leases.
We have not had the opportunity to inspect the property on the ground, so cannot comment on the easements or surrenders in detail. With this qualification we support the proposal subject to our desire to see vehicular access provided via DOC for recreational hunters (See 4 below).
This surrender is of interest to hunters, and we strongly support this change to public conservation land for its recreational hunting value, and its other recreational values. As these recreational hunting resources are publicly owned, it is better that they be on public land, where they are available to the public, rather than on privately occupied land.
We generally support the easements provided. However, having a process whereby hunters can take vehicles (4WD or Quads) in to the boundary with CA1 would make it easier to take out game animals for the table. This would assist hunters to hunt in the area, and help keep deer and pig numbers in control.
It would more than halve the distance carcasses would need to be carried. This would improve recreational hunting pressure on the CA1 block, so aiding the sustainable management of this block. Sustainable management is a goal of the Crown Pastoral Lands Act (CPLA). So this change would assist achieving this goal.
Without a public right for recreational hunter vehicle access from DOC, the lessee remains the owner of the vehicular access, ie has the right to refuse permission, and to charge whatever he likes for that access.
If hunter vehicle access was considered part of DOC’s management of the block ie a management purpose, then recreational vehicle access would be available if needed. We urge that LINZ check with DOC that this is, or can be the case. It would be ironic if DOC could employ commercial hunters to kill big game, and allow them to use the road for “management purposes” while not allowing recreational hunters for the same purpose.
For instance LINZ and DOC could agree that a hunting permit for CA1 and beyond, could include motorised access to the end of these easements ie assisting DOC with big game management.
Please contact me if you require further information.
Thanking you
Yours truly
Dr Hugh Barr
NZDA National Advocate
cc Department of Conservation, Dunedin
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