RELEASE 6 DECEMBER 2011

Deerstalkers Delighted With Dunne’s New Deal

The New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Inc is delighted to see the Honourable Peter Dunne’s appointment as Associate Minister of Conservation, in a new National-led Government.

Mr Dunne has been a true friend to the hunters and fishers of this country for many years. Many of his party’s views and ideas, have been translated into welcome policy and bills in their interests.

NZDA is especially pleased to learn Mr Dunne wants to see a ban on guided helicopter-assisted hunting, on public conservation land. This repugnant activity, known also as heli-hunting, is unethical, unfair, unwanted and unprincipled to NZDA’s members.

Mr Dunne has in NZDA’s view a golden opportunity to introduce far-reaching legislative amendments to the Conservation and Wild Animal Control Acts, which the association hopes will restrict and ultimately stamp out this disgraceful blight on our remote landscapes.

NZDA also strongly endorses Mr Dunne’s commitment to ensuring free public access to New Zealand’s lakes, rivers, coastlines and forests. NZDA feels this access has been compromised over some of the country during previous governments and wants to see more legally enforceable measures taken to ensure enduring public access into the future.

NZDA keenly anticipates working with UnitedFuture where it can, to support its policies and proposals for legislation.

NZDA looks forward to the introduction of new legislation to ban heli-hunting and will lobby strongly for it, wherever it can.

NZDA also acknowledges Mr Dunne’s commitment to the progress of The Game Animal Council Establishment Bill, and looks forward to proposing meaningful practical amendments to this, during its second reading.

NZDA will be ‘united’ in the near ‘future’, with Mr Dunne, to produce some better deals for hunters.

ends

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