* NZDA is opposed to the practice of ‘heli-hunting, as it defines that activity, on all public lands.
* Heli-hunting is defined by NZDA, as the ‘Carriage of hunters involved with the searching for, shooting or immobilising and recovery of wild animals, where such carriage of hunters does not allow opportunity for fair chase of wild animals.’
* NZDA supports the use of helicopters for well-managed and legitimate Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO), as defined in conditions of current WARO Concessions, granted by the Department of Conservation.
* NZDA supports the reasonable use of helicopters for transport, by recreational hunters, hunting guides and their clients, for access to defined, pre-determined landing sites or zones.
* NZDA is in principle, supportive of guided hunting. However, it is NZDA National Policy ‘to strenuously oppose commercial exploitation of the wildlife and natural resources of New Zealand, wherever and whenever such action is deemed to jeopardise, restrict or conflict with the public usage thereof, or to be contrary to sound conservation practice’.
* NZDA believes heli-hunting constrains public usage of wild game animals and wild places. We assert that it is a male-biased harvest which does not contribute to herd management. It impinges on the availability of trophy animals for the public, and seriously diminishes the ‘quiet enjoyment’ of our back-country by hunters, trampers, climbers and other back-country user groups.’
Southern Lakes Branch NZDA opposes the granting of a concession for aerially-assisted trophy hunting in these three wilderness areas.
For those who would like to make a submission, the Department of Conservation contact to send them to is Jenny Williams, her email address is jwilliams@doc.govt.nz, where you can send a submissions electronically.
Click here to read their submission
The National Executive of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc (NZDA) submits on the notified application of Helitours Ltd for a multi conservancy 20-year licence for helicopter landings in Otago, Canterbury and Southland Conservancies. NZDA has recreational interests in all three conservancies and has several large branches in each. NZDA wishes to be heard on this application.
NZDA strongly objects to the term of 20 years for this licence. It believes 20 years as a term is too long for a highly invasive, potentially high-impact and obtrusive activity such as helicopter flights, especially in some areas listed in the staff report which are remote or used rarely. p { margin-bottom: 0.21cmddads
The national executive of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated, makes the following substantive preliminary submission in resolute opposition to the proposals for heli-hunting concessions on lands not subject to general land management policy, or administration via CMS and CMP instruments. We recognize that the proposed lands are simultaneously, not currently used by wild animal recovery (WARO) operators.
We see the provision of heli-hunting permits by way of a Conservation Act part 3B concession, as being quite different from the provision of wild animal recovery operation (WARO) permits by the same legal instrument. We note that your department’s own determination report on the new WARO framework (File PAC12 08 02, Section 2.2), states that WARO permits may only be used for recovery of animal carcasses, and live deer capture.
NZDA believes DOC has failed to provide the public and the board with adequate information about potential impacts on the environment and visitor experience of the park. It should produce data from visitor surveys, or social research, which provides insights into perceptions of current and future aircraft-based activity, before presenting any advice on a plan-change to the conservation board. We see heli-hunting as being counter-intuitive to the sport of recreational hunting, and we strongly assert it will act to deter foot-hunters from using the park. This is likely to have an adverse affect on tahr management where recreational hunters on foot, already contribute to tahr control.
© 2011 New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association