Tuesday 18 October 2011

Dunne: Game Animal Council Bill introduced into Parliament

The Game Animal Council Bill introduced into Parliament today is the culmination of UnitedFuture’s long-standing commitment to improve the way deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs are managed according to UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne.

“The Game Animal Council established under this bill will be a new independent statutory body to better represent the interests of hunters and improve the management of hunting resources in New Zealand,” said Mr Dunne.

“UnitedFuture believes these animals deserve to be recognised as valued introduced species rather than the pests government policy has historically considered them to be; importantly this Bill does that by finally giving them their deserved status as game animals.”

The Council will be delegated specific management functions for particular herds of special interest in certain locations. Broadly, the functions of the Council will be:
• Advising and making recommendations to the Minister of Conservation
• For herds of special interest to hunters and in specific locations designated by the Minister, to undertake management functions to improve the hunting experience.
• Undertaking game animal hunting research
• Providing information and education to the hunting sector
• Promoting safety initiatives for the sector
• Raising awareness of the views of the hunting sector
• Liaising with hunters, recreational organisations, tangata whenua, local authorities, landowners, the New Zealand Conservation Authority, conservation boards and Department of Conservation to improve hunting opportunities.
• Providing other services ancillary to the Council’s other functions.

The Council will be mostly self-funding and the basic permit to hunt on public conservation land will remain free of charge.

“The Game Animal Council was born out of UnitedFuture’s confidence and supply agreements with both this National Government and the previous Labour Government, and proves once again what UnitedFuture is able to achieve in the MMP environment.”

“Hunting is an integral part of the Kiwi way of life, I am proud that we have given hunters a greater say in the future of their sport while preserving their right to hunt these animals for free,” said Mr Dunne.

The Game Animal Council Bill is available at http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2011/0347/latest/versions.aspx

ENDS

© Scoop Media