Conservation Department To Become More Recreation Focussed.

For too long hunters and anglers and other recreation user have been ignored by the Department of Conservation but now they have a great opportunity to participate in a more positive way as our wilderness lands are opened up to more recreational opportunities as result of changes understood to be taking place within the Department of Conservation.

Peter Dunne and the United Future party has kept the pressure on by pushing issues such as the Game Animal Council and the banning of Helihunting. As a result the Director General of DOC has now agreed that their focus on pure conservation has been to the detriment of recreational groups and changes are on the way. He acknowledged that for too long recreation has been overlooked in the pursuit of conservation and that this has caused a disconnect between doc and outdoor groups.

During the election at numerous public meetings Alan Simmons, United Future outdoors Candidate, called for a shake-up and change to the whole ethos of DoC and received unanimous support on the campaign trail for that proposal.

Alan Simmons owner of the popular Fishnhunt Forum and United Future outdoors candidate at the last election said on behalf of his 200,000 monthly visitors that they welcome changes that will see hunting as a valued and legitimate use of our wilderness lands and that they will not have to constantly argue against extremist big game animal policies based on extermination.

It has been most frustrating when every reasoned proposal has been knocked back as a result of extremist like Forest and Bird or the Greens objecting to anything that opens up the DOC estate to any forms of recreation apart from walking or bird watching.

Peter Dunne is to be congratulated for facilitating these changes.
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