Deerstalkers’ Association Deplores Kaimanawa Road Killing.

The national executive of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association retracts and apologises unreservedly, for the ill-chosen comments made by its National president, Alec McIver, in printed articles over labour weekend. We also wish to extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Rosemary Ives, whose death at the hands of a thoughtless, careless firearms user, is an indictment on him, and casts an unwelcome shadow over the pursuit of hunting.

Our president did not mean to construct this tragedy as “a freakish accident” or to trivialise or excuse it by referring to it as “an unusual situation”. Though his choice of words was unwise, his intention was neither malicious nor intended to cause distress. Rosemary Ives’ death is the devastating result of needless, heedless and mindless misuse of a firearm. This is doubly repugnant because the user discharged his firearm near a public place, which directly contravenes Section 48 of the Arms Act 1983.

NZDA utterly condemns any use of a firearm which occurs illegally, and which is careless, no matter what time of day it occurs. The fact this occurred at night in very poor light, shows the scant regard this man from Hamilton had for correct and responsible use of his firearm.

NZDA does not represent all hunters, and only about a third of the estimated 30,000 game animal hunters in New Zealand are members of our association. We do try hard however, to promote and encourage new hunters onto our HUNTS courses. These teach the seven basic rules of firearms safety, good hunting practice, and safety in the outdoors. WE are only sorry this idiot chose not to be part of one; Rosemary may still be alive, if he had.

NZDA will be doing more to inform and remind hunters of their obligations when using and carrying firearms in and around public places in future.

NZDA applauds the Police in laying charges of careless use of a firearm, against this offender. WE will be encouraging the police and the judiciary to make an example of this person. We hope a stiff punishment for this offender; will go a small way to assuring campers and other users of the outdoors, of the safety and sanctity of our wilderness, which Rosemary Ives was so cruelly denied.

ENDS

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