4 March 2006

ARC Wasting Ratepayers Money pushing Wild Deer and Pigs as Pests

New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association (NZDA) is highly critical of an Auckland Regional Council (ARC) initiative to make wild deer and pigs pests in the Auckland Region. This is proposed in the ARC's review of its Pest Management Strategy, which closes Tuesday.

"Wild deer and pigs are important to deerstalkers and pig hunters, both for recreation, and as a food source" NZDA National Advocate Dr Hugh Barr says. "With more than 7,000 deerstalkers and pig hunters living in the Auckland region, and only small numbers of wild deer and pigs, there lots of hunters ready and able to keep numbers at a sustainable level voluntarily."

"It is a waste of ratepayer money for the ARC to propose these animals as pests, when they are not a problem. In fact there are not enough wild deer and pigs available to meet recreational hunter demand " Dr Barr said. "Hunters usually have to travel long distances outside the region to hunt deer and pigs".

"Rather than target these valued game animals as pests, the ARC should be considering how it can best serve the region's large number of recreational hunters by providing harvesting opportunities on its own extensive parklands" Dr Barr said. "Then the ARC would be showing leadership in sustainable management. It should not be an opportunity for the ARC to stamp out its citizens recreational hunting locally."

ENDS

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