Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Game Animal Council a political trophy

14 June 2012

Game Animal Council a political trophy

Forest & Bird told a hearing today that proposals to establish a Game Animal Council are flawed, saying that changes to the Bill are essential to minimise its conservation risks.

“The council is being established for all the wrong reasons,” Conservation Advocate Claire Browning said after appearing before the Local Government and Environment select committee this morning. “It’s a political trophy awarded to Hon Peter Dunne for his loyalty to the current government, that’s all.”

Claire Browning advised the committee that if a council were wanted, it could be easily and properly established under the existing Wild Animal Control Act.

Forest & Bird’s principal concern about the Game Animal Council Bill is that the council would be responsible for managing so-called “herds of special interest” on public conservation lands, and, potentially, deciding whether a particular herd should be designated as one of “special interest”.

The herds of special interest are herds of mammal pests – deer, thar, chamois and wild pigs – whose impact on conservation land has been summed up by the New Zealand Conservation Authority as “major and damaging”.

But with passage of the Bill inevitable, Forest & Bird’s submission focused on recommending relatively simple changes that would allow the council to go ahead, while minimising its risks to conservation and national heritage.

These included balanced council membership with adequate conservation expertise, expert and public scrutiny of the council’s performance of its functions, and a requirement for measuring and monitoring the conservation impacts of these herds.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Claire Browning noted that Forest & Bird supported hunting on public conservation lands, and would like to see more of it. Hunters were an ally in pest control, she said.

“We are not opposed to a Game Animal Council for education, advice, co-ordination of the hunting sector and lobbying – although we are not sure why DOC should have to fund what is, essentially, a glorified lobby group.”

Forest & Bird disagrees with hunters being given self-management powers because the problems with “big game” are their impact on the environment. Past examples in New Zealand showed self-management did not work, and produced poor conservation outcomes.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.