Stock thefts on the rise in central North Island
For the past few years, Alisdair MacLeay has moved his stock away from the road to stop it becoming someone else’s Christmas dinner.
The area has been besieged by poachers in recent years, said the resident of Turakina Valley, east of Whanganui, and it’s not alone.
A Ministry for Primary Industries spokeswoman said a string of cattle thefts had hit farms across the central North Island this year, including Whanganui, Taranaki, Taihape and Rangitikei.
‘‘There is concern the stolen cattle could end up as illegal homekill meat sales.
Last month, MacLeay gave chase after catching red-handed a ute-load of people he believed were poaching. Three people have since appeared in court jointly charged with reckless disregard for the safety of others by discharging a firearm.
MacLeay said stock he’d had stolen and shot included goats, deer and cattle.
‘‘This time of year, we have to shift all our good stock away from the road because they just get shot for Christmas meat.
‘‘The last few years people have came through and just shot cattle and cut them [up].’’
Police are still looking for those behind the theft of four steers from a Whanganui property earlier this month.
Sergeant Greg Hemingway said three other cattle were seriously injured and had to be put down.
‘‘These were large animals that would have weighed around 600kg each, so it would have needed several people to move them.’’
Federated Farmers ManawatuRangitikei president James Stewart said he would like to see tougher punishments for stock thieves.
‘‘We’ve been pushing for tougher penalties for stock theft that are similar to what the fisheries do,’’ he said.
Under the Fisheries Act, a person found buying, selling, or possessing fish contrary to act can be fined up to $250,000 and face up to five years in prison.