For immediate release

12:00 pm 23 June 2010

NZ Game Animal Council a win/win for conservation and hunting

Benefits to conservation and hunting alike are provided for in the report of the Establishment Committee, released today by the Minister of Conservation, Hon. Kate Wilkinson.

The report details a process for setting up a new Game Animal Council to manage deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs in New Zealand.

“This is an opportunity to usher in a new era of co-operative place-based game management, and put an end to the long history of unresolved conflicts and past management difficulties,” said Garry Ottmann, Chair of the Establishment Committee.

He said that the Game Animal Council as a statutory body would provide secure leadership for game animal management, and a forum to facilitate better relationships among stakeholders. “This will in turn result in better social outcomes through increased recreational opportunities, and better environmental outcomes through clearer control priorities for conservation. There will also be better economic outcomes through increased export and tourism returns.

“The Game Animal Council will instil principles of responsibility for ethical harvesting and population management among hunters, and foster a greater conservation ethic among them. This will help lead to an acceptance by all of the resource values of game animals and the place of hunting in achieving conservation outcomes.”

He said that other key outcomes would include reduced antagonism among hunting groups with different views as to how game animals should be utilised, and between game animal interests and those who might not value game animals for meat, trophy or economic purposes. “The Council also represents an opportunity to embrace a collaborative approach to managing game animals and conservation of indigenous species.

“The present proposal to set up the Game Animal Council reflects the determination of the last two governments to address these conflicts, and involves all parties with an interest in game animals and conservation working together for mutual benefit,” Mr Ottmann said.

ENDS

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