New Zealand Wildlife Safaris

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1 New Zealand Wildlife Safaris Terry and Glad Pierson April 15,2012 Secretariat Local Body and Environment Select Committee Select Committee Office Parliament Buildings Wellington 6011 SUBMISSION ON THE GAME ANIMAL COUNCIL BILL This submission is on behalf of Terence A (Terry) Pierson owner of New Zealand Wildlife Safaris an inbound tourist hunting and fishing operation. This business was established in 1978 and has been operating in this area since that time. It has many hundreds of satisfied clients 99% of whom are from either United States or Europe and for over 30 years this company has actively sought it's participants directly from these markets. Terry Pierson is a founder member of the New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association and a Past President, Founding Member of Safari Club International New Zealand Chapter and Immediate Past President. In international hunting affairs he is Life Member and the first and only Past President of the International Profession Hunters Association, the world body of all professional hunting associations, representing the South Pacific area, also life member of Safari Club International and Dallas Safari Clubs. It is our wish that the following appear personally in support of this submission. Terry Pierson Sincerely /~/ >Terence A (Terry ) Pierson.

2 SUBMISSION GAME ANIMAL COUNCIL BILL General. We support this Bill and believe that this is a long awaited change in New Zealand and applaud the introduction of game management in this country. For as long as we have been involved in this industry the greatest criticism received from our intemational clientele has been the lack of any form of game management other than ones individual personal efforts. Clients who are in almost all cases directly involved in game animal management in one form or another are often amazed at the lack of management displayed by the New Zealand Government and always extremely critical of stance displayed by the Department of Conservation in respect to our game animal resource. Unfortunately New Zealand is often held up for ridicule as a display of "what not to do" in the world of game animal management and hunting. This ridicule is an objection to be overcome often before enticing international sportsperson to actually visit and hunt in this country. During the early years of this company the question always asked was: "Is there anything left to hunt there after your department has slaughtered everything?" Only a long 'track history' of success has enabled this objection to be overcome. We strongly believe that the adoption of this Bill will ensure the future of hunting in New Zealand for our future generations. Currently this future is in doubt as the current administration, Department of Conservation, have no mandate or interest to manage New Zealand's game animal resource their only mandate is control. This element of 'control' is ineffective and from an intemational perspective, totally improbable. The introduction of the Game Animal Council as a standalone statutory body will go a long way to not only improve New Zealand's reputation internationally but also provide for effective management of this important resource, game animals in New Zealand. Notwithstanding the lack of management by the Department of Conservation, It should be noted that apart from their homeland of Nepal, New Zealand is the only country in the world that Himalayan Tahr can been seen or hunted in their natural splendor. This one specie must be considered 'the backbone' to a flourishing industry in New Zealand that earns many millions annually in foreign currency. There are some specific areas which we believe minor alterations would ensure that the Bill, when adopted, would irnprove this Legislation. Part 1 3. Purposes Additional purpose: (e) to reduce conflicts between commercial and recreational users of the resource. In the past, there has been considerable distrust and conflict between the various interests involved with game animals, between New Zealand recreational hunters, the professional guided hunting industry and the helicopter industry. In most situations this is a perceived conflict, but prior to the introduction of this Bill the meetings of the various interests have demonstrated that many of these conflicts are simply solved by communication. Many of the conflicts are directly the result of not only the way legislation has been adapted retrospectively but the manner in which it has been interpreted by the Department of Conservation who are looking towards their Authorities and Boards for direction. 2

3 4 Interpretation. Game animal (c) Delete: This section should be deleted as all animals irrespective of status i.e. captivity should be subject to this Bill and replaced with: (c) Any animal for the time being specified in the gazette to be a game animal that may be hunted or killed, farmed or had in possession subject to such conditions as set out in the gazette notice for game animals, and any such game animals that may be hunted or killed, farmed or had in possession accordingly. It is strongly believed that all animals determined to be game should be identified as such and be subject to Game Animal Council control and requiring an export levy irrespective of their derivation. The Department of Conservation is not believed to be the correct agency to manage farmed and game estate animals. The Department has no expertise in either deer farming or game estate animals and would be far better administered by the Game Council members who are experienced and knowledgeable in this specific area. As the major funding stream is revenue from exported game trophies and a large proportion of exported trophies are produced annually from game estate operations it is logical that the Game Animal Council should also administer the legislation pertaining to their operations. Game trophy Suggested new definition: (a) means [as distinguished from carcass/ part of carcass] (i) the head, headskin, skull, jaws, teeth, tusks, horns, antlers, bones, or hooves of any game animal; or (ii) the whole or any part of any game animal that has been mounted, or rendered inedible as a result of taxidermy or preservation; and includes any materials incorporated in the mounting, taxidermy or preservation; but (iii) ) is a souvenir from a game animal hunted and killed in New Zealand in the previous 10 years; but (b) does not include (i) the velvet, velvet antlers, or hide other than the headskin of a game animal; or (ii) hard antlers cut above the pedicle of a deer (iii) meat, whether separate from or attached to the carcass or any part thereof; and includes organs (other than the skin) and meat products. (iv) animal by products This new definition encompasses the definition of a game trophy in far better detail. The current definition fails to address items that may be considered a trophy, for example hard antler and other parts of game animals sometimes collected by particularly overseas hunters. Management definition. The current Interpretation fails to address the issue of management or to identify possible goals of the legislation. As previously stated, the Department of Conservation is limited to 'control' only therefore it is believed that game animal management should be interpreted. Suggested interpretation: Management means the management of numbers in accordance with good conservation values and the quality of game animals and includes the hunting and farming and the holding in captivity of game animals. 3

4 Hunters are the best conservationists. No hunters want to see damage to forests or any land by overgrazing due to numbers or other factors irrespective of it being private or conservation lands. Animals in poor condition do not produce trophies or quality meat. Today we have access to the necessary technology to overcome excess game animal numbers. Subpart 2 Game Animal Council 7. Functions of Council. Financial Implications. Concern is expressed that the functions of the Council do not provide for any ability to charge or levy for its services. Hunters from almost every other country in the world are accustomed to paying game departments for the privilege of hunting and services provided and those services are expected to be paid for. This cost is usually recovered by levying the user for this service. This area could be defined by an additional function: Assess the costs of managing game animals in New Zealand and set the appropriate fees and levies to recover those costs. 8. Council Membership. Change : "The Minister must appoint no fewer than 9 and no more than 11, persons as members of the Council" to : "The Minister must appoint no fewer than 12, persons as members of the Council with an additional independent Chairperson. The increase in number would also be consistent with most other Governmental statutory bodies: Conservation Authority, Conservation Boards and Fish and Game. From the experience of the Establishment Committee it has been apparent that the Game Animal Council would be better served if appointees were from established organisations where individual experience is known. Therefore we would suggest the following list of associations be the basis of appointees: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association New Zealand Pig Hunting Association Maori Hunting Advisory Group Safari Club International New Zealand Chapter The New Zealand Association of Game Estates The New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association The Aerial Game Recovery Industry including meat processing The New Zealand Deer Farmers Association Federated Farmers New Zealand New Zealand Forest Owners Association (10) (11&12) Two recreational hunters. It should be noted that even though suggested prospective members of the Council may be nominated and selected from the various organizations, each and every one of these people are also recreational hunters, the only difference being that these recreational hunters have demonstrated and abiding interest by joining these various organizations. 4

5 12. Independent Chairperson. It is strongly believed that an independent Chairperson should be appointed from outside of the memberships of any of the recommended organizations to preserve total independence. In line with modern concepts of independent Chairpersons it would seek resolution by agreement rather than needing a casting vote. Subpart 3 Herds of Special Interest. This is an area of concern and unnecessarily restrictive. It would seem to be unwise to specify which specific individual herds of game animals should be individually managed. The solution would be to provide authority for the Minister to designate any specie of game as game animals under management of the Game Animal Council. We are aware that in a number of instances that game animals exist not only on Department of Conservation land but also on private property, in some cases adjoining. We believe that private property holders should have the right to request Game Animal Council management of their game animal herds. Currently the definitions and powers do not extend to private property and this should be changes to permit such activity. We strongly believe that provisions should be made for the licensing of persons commercially hunting, capturing transporting, holding, selling or exporting game animals and persons who aid, assist or guide other hunters in the hunting, capturing, transporting, holding, selling or exporting game animals. 19. Herd management plans. While the existing provisions are adequate it is believed that a more generic management approach needs to be considered. Part 2 Miscellaneous provisions Subpart 1 Offences and penalties. 28 hunting or killing animals in herd of special interest. We strongly support these provisions but believe that all game animals should be subject to these provisions but without the herds of special interest definition. Private property owners may prefer to be part of the Game Animal Council management rēgime so as to enjoy the better defined offences and penalties. Some concern is expressed for the need for summary convictions and would suggest that consideration be given to levy instant fines and /or diversion. This consideration is based on the basis that summary convictions are time consuming and expensive. Furthermore it is believed that the proposed fine structure is not significant and consideration should be given to at least doubling of the proposed limitations. Subpart 2 Other matters. 34 Enforcement officers and honorary enforcement officers. And Schedule 1 Enforcement officers and honorary enforcement officers. We strongly submit that this term is somewhat confusing and that this legislation reflect that the term "ranger' be used. This term is adopted by most game departments worldwide and for clarity, this term would be preferred. Thank you for the opportunity of submitting.