This group which will be known as the Lower North Island Hunter Liaison Group (LNIHLG) was formed in response to the Minister's wishes to have better liaison with hunters. It includes representatives from virtually all the NZDA branches and hunting clubs (no pig hunting clubs yet) surrounding the Tararuas and Eastern Ruahines. We represent around 2000 hunter members within the new local Conservancy - Wellington Hawkes Bay.

Organisations involved include: NZDA Wellington, NZDA Hutt Valley, NZDA Manawatu, NZDA Kapiti, NZDA Wairarapa, NZDA Bush, NZDA Ruahine, Horowhenua Hunting Club, NZDA Porirua, Doc (Wgtn, Wairarapa, Kapiti, Wanganui and Palmerston North). The first Chair was Keith Finlayson of Wairarapa Branch and he and our tireless secretary Derrick Field have done a lot to set up the group and get it working. Gordon George has taken over from Keith as Chair.

Our prime area of focus and frustration has been WARO issues in the Tararuas and threats to the current regime in the Ruahines. Correspondence entered into and the groups terms of Reference are attached as links on this page

Current issues – Oct 2010 WARO regime.

DOC at the request of the aerial operators, are exploring ways of further opening up the Ruahines. Presently the WARO permits deny them that right prior to 2014 other than through review of the Conservation Management Plan which is around 2 years away at least. Presently DOC can close areas relatively easily but cannot simply open them. So hunters need to let DOC know just how strongly we value the present closure periods and closed areas in the two forest parks.

A proposal submitted to DOC in September 2009 to improve recreational hunting by increasing Closed WARO areas in the Tararua Forest Park has not met with much success to date. One outcome has been the suggestion outlined below.

There is intended to be a facilitated discussion between aerial recovery operators, recreational hunters and DOC. The wish is to explore if there is any agreement on issues and any consensus of approach possible that helps eliminate or minimise our conflicting wishes within the Ruahine and Tararua Forest Parks.

We are also presently awaiting information from DOC to allow us to publish “a guide to taking evidence on poaching helicopters”. There have been a large number of reports of poaching helicopters in the Ruahines including in the no fly zones and reportedly DOC don’t have enough evidence to take action. We as hunters need to ensure that DOC have to follow-up properly on these guys by us taking good evidence and knowing what to expect/request from DOC to ensure they follow through.

Thanks