Minister Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Alleged threats of eco-terrorism to Kapiti, Cod Fish and Stewart Islands appear to have all the hallmarks of green extremists determined to undermine the credibility of the hunting community, ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today.

"It is inconceivable that hunting groups would respond to DOC's extermination policy in National Parks with such a threat. The hunting community's love of the great outdoors includes all flora and fauna, and they appreciate DOC's outstanding efforts to eliminate stoats and possums. Hunters I have spoken to also say such a release would result in a massive aerial 1080 drop. They have nothing to gain by such an action," said Mr Eckhoff.

"The only group that has made - and carried out eco-terrorism threats - is the Wild Greens, yet to be condemned by the Green Party.

"The spelling of the world `elevin' and `oppossums', in the letter to Forest & Bird, seems a ploy to implicate a `hillbilly' mentality. Why did they manage to spell `bio-diversity' correctly?

"The Conservation Minister naively accepts these threats at face value. He would do well to bring together all stakeholders who have a legitimate place in the environment's administration, instead of casting aspersions at the hunting lobby.

"While I do not deny that this contemptuous threat, from a handful of disgruntled individuals, is possible, it seems more likely the letters come from a well-established Wild Green network hellbent on evoking public sympathy for DOC - which took a hammering over the tahr slaughter in Mt Cook National Park, said Mr Eckhoff.

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