Date:  05 April 2017

During a routine investigation in the Kaweka Forest Park late last year, DOC discovered that two brothers one from Rotorua and one from Palmerston North had been hunting without current permits.

Hawke's Bays Operations Manager Connie Norgate says, “Permits provide information about local hunting safety restrictions. They are free and can be obtained online from the DOC website or your local DOC office.”

Connie reminds hunters to adhere to the permit conditions and refrain from hunting in the hours of darkness or ‘spotlighting’ on conservation land. This includes the use of thermal imaging scopes.

41 people died hunting in New Zealand between 2007 and 2016. Those deaths involved firearms, falling incidents and river crossings.

This comes from a report into hunter safety released by the Mountain Safety Council: A hunter’s tale: a deep dive into hunting incidents in New Zealand.

It found that, on average, 1030 people are injured in New Zealand each year while hunting.

Taradale Police Senior Constable Pete Gimblett says DOC and police are working closely together to stamp out illegal hunting and offenders run the risk of having their firearms seized and firearms licence revoked.

He went on to say that both the police and DOC would be carrying out random checks over the season and hunters are required to carry both their firearms licence and a copy of their hunting permit.

The permit to hunt on public conservation land does not convey the right to hunt or cross private property, that consent needs to be sought from the land owner.  

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