Other members of hunting party could be charged under Conservation Act

Three members of a hunting party involved in a fatal shooting near Turangi last year are not able to be charged by Police for any role they may have had in the incident, however, they could potentially be charged by the Department of Conservation under the Conservation Act.

Twenty-five year old Rosemary Ives was shot and killed at a campground near Turangi at Labour Weekend last year by a member of a hunting party. The hunting group of four were illegally hunting deer at night in the Kaimanawa Forest Park.

Andrew Mears was arrested in relation to the incident and pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment when he appeared in the Rotorua High Court on Wednesday .

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce, says while a key focus for the investigation was the arrest and eventual conviction of Andrew Mears for manslaughter, extensive work has also been underway to determine whether the other three members of the hunting party could also be prosecuted.

"This has been an extremely difficult and distressing case for everyone involved – Police, other emergency services and campers in the area at the time – and not least of which for the family and partner of Ms Ives.

"Obviously a key focus for us was achieving the successful conviction of Andrew Mears for manslaughter, but of equal focus has been trying to ensure that all of those who were involved are also held accountable for their actions.

"Unfortunately, even after a considerable amount of work, Police are not able to charge the other three members of the group with any offence related to her death. This has been supported by a legal opinion from the Crown.

"However, an illegal hunting-related charge has been identified and could be laid under the Conservation Act, given the group were on Department of Conservation land at the time of the incident. A decision as to whether this action will be taken is under consideration by the Department of Conservation.

"At the same time, Police have commenced the process to revoke the firearms licences held by two of remaining three members of the hunting party."

ENDS

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