LNI Red Deer Foundation

Hi Guys

We are working through responses to DoC’s statement of defence. Then DoC get a further response and we get the last say and around early December this year a day in court of essentially paper evidence for the Judge. Then sometime afterwards a decision will come out. If its favourable to us then it sets the scene for much better consideration of recreational hunters into the future and heads off the ability of the WARO guys to threaten DoC with challenges every time DoC refuse to remove restrictions to let them in an area.

At the local level it will hopefully result in regaining the closure of the Rimutakas, the closure of the Tararua areas they opened and the entrenchment of the restrictions in the Ruahines. It should be noted that whilst DoC have in theory returned the Ruahines to the 2009-2015 restrictions they haven’t really. Because of the way they “fixed” the problem only 2 operators agreed to relinquish the summer opening, there still are two currently inactive WARO concessions in place with operators who refused to relinquish the Ruahine opening – i.e it is still possible that 2 operators could choose to go hunting there Dec 1^st to Aril 30^th and DoC would consider that legal. Only the low meat price is holding things in check. No new operators can take up the summer offer.

Short version – a lot is still at stake, it’s a costly exercise and we need the support of hunters.

·         Donations to the Lower North Island Red Deer Foundation Incorporated can go to Kiwi Bank        acct #          38 9017 0707871 01

·         Check out our Facebook page (LNI Red Deer Foundation) for more info and a donation form if you want a receipt.

 

Ruahine Deer Plan

On a more cooperative note. Another meeting of the working group occurred recently in Masterton at DoC’s office there. We are now into the meaty stuff and no doubt we and the WARO guys will see things differently however we are talking and there is far more common ground than not. As part of that process DoC are working on producing maps showing higher and lower biodiversity value areas (they rate all the PCL areas in the country) and we (GAC, LNIRDF and NZDA and DoC) are producing a survey regarding the Ruahines to go out shortly to as many hunters as we can get it to. We want to know what is important to hunters. So when you see the reference to it please take the time to partake.

Thanks Guys

GG

Sec HV NZDA and Pres LNIRDF

 

Hi Guys

latest update follows - as of 6th May 2016

The member clubs of the Lower North Island Hunter Liaison Group (12 NZDA branches and 3 clubs) have been busy over the past months primarily with WARO (Wild Animal Recovery Operations – heli hunting of deer) related issues. Below is a summary of activity:

·         After less confrontational methods proved fruitless the Group hired law firm DLA Piper to assist in challenging the 2015 WARO review decisions. 

·         After pressure from the Group and others, DOC carried out a review of the Ruahine changes and just before Christmas they rescinded those changes albeit with a few fish-hooks which would allow them to issue short term WARO concessions. They have refused to review the Tararua, Rimutaka and reserves changes.

·         On a positive note multiparty meetings have begun to discuss long term deer management in the Ruahines. However its early days yet.

·         We are left with either continuing the challenge to the High Court (judicial review) or rolling over and accepting the significant changes to the Tararuas and Rimutakas and hoping they don’t fudge a re-opening of the Ruahines if we back away from court. Please note that one official information request identified a DOC wish to open all of the Ruahines to the heli’s through the ongoing CMS review.

·         We resolved to pursue the matter through the High Court and to seek a legal entity status which not only suited the legal challenge but would also provide an entity in the future which might form the management group for possibilities like Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) areas under the Game Animal Council Act.

·         We have now formed the Lower North Island Red Deer Foundation Incorporated, accounts are set up and since last Sunday donations have been rolling in.

·         The challenge is almost ready to lodge with the High Court and hopefully within the next 7 to 10 days the Minister should get the paperwork from the court.

·         None of this is cheap, but the alternative is to bend over and take it and in doing so very likely lose even more in the future. To date $13000 has been expended by the branches and clubs. More is needed. We have achieved a conditional rescinding of the Ruahine openings but we need to entrench it and overturn the Tararua and Rimutaka changes.

·         Costs have been shared between the club members of the Group/Foundation though Hutt Valley Branch has carried the lions share pending repayment by other member clubs. NZDA National office have also come to the party and have donated $5000 towards the foundations future management and in late April a further $2500 towards costs incurred.

·         Other donations are needed and the word needs to go out to all hunters whether members or not as we all benefit from the spending so spread the word please. This challenge is about standing up for a lasting fair deal by the only pragmatic option left to us.

·        So please consider donating and help us push for a sustainable fair deal for hunters. Donations to the

Lower North Island Red Deer Foundation Incorporated.  Kiwi Bank acct #             38 9017 0707871 01

·         Check out our Facebook page (LNI Red Deer Foundation) for more info and a donation form if you want a receipt.

·         Please donate and spread the word, time to make a stand.

Thanks

Gordon George (GG)

President, Lower North Island Red Deer Foundation Inc.

 

 

 

Below please find some links to various documents and emails (just one string) and some of the history from when we last had to stop DOC opening up the Ruahines to WARO in 2011. We will add more as time goes by.

 

 

Factsheet for review of conditions of national WARO permit activity in Ruahines - DOC-2541121.docx

WARO emails Janine Sidery of DOC.docx

Min Con MB WARO review questions Mar15.docx

Hunters in stand off- Manawatu std 1-8-11.docx