Media Release

Wednesday 20th November 2013

Game and Forest Foundation welcomes the passage of the Game Animal Council Bill.

“The passage of the Game Animal Council Bill into law is the most significant milestone for hunting, game management and conservation in New Zealand for over 80 years” said Tom Williams Chairman of the Game and Forest Foundation.

Deer, tahr, chamois, and wild pigs are valued introduced species and have been the source of much conflict over the last eighty years. Current legislation has resulted in a decline in quality of our game resource and lost opportunities for recreational hunting, tourism, farming and conservation. The establishment of the Game Animal Council demonstrates a new maturity of attitudes and partnerships where conflict and marginalisation will be replaced with co-operation and focused management.

Hunters are some of New Zealand’s most ardent conservationists and are already spearheading conservation programs for our native species such as the whio or Blue duck in Fiordland and in the Central North Island.

“Our ability to provide food for our tables and look after our environment at the same time helps make New Zealand the special place it is” said Tom Williams.

The Game Animal Council is the result of three public consultation processes going back to 1997 and Game And Forest extends its appreciation to the current Minister of Conservation Hon Dr Nick Smith and to all those involved in this process for their efforts in bringing the Game Animal Council to life.

“We give our full support to the Game Animal Council and look forward to helping it to get up and running. We want to express our special thanks to the Hon Peter Dunne, for his long standing and continued support for hunting, conservation and the Game Animal Council” said Tom Williams

ENDS

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