Elderly farmer ‘doesn’t mind dying’ chasing after poachers

An elderly farmer gave chase after he was shot at by poachers early yesterday.

Alisdair Macleay said: ‘‘I’m 75, so I don’t mind dying in the chase.

‘‘I wasn’t going to let them get away,’’ he said.

Police were called to investigate reports of gunfire at a rural property about 60km east of Whanganui, at 1am.

Macleay said he was woken by a spotlight shining through his window and went to investigate.

He saw someone on the back of a ute using the spotlight and, next minute, said he was shot at.

He was unhurt and gave chase for about 5 kilometres, carrying on until he caught a glimpse of the licence plate.

Macleay gave police a description of the ute.

Later that morning a vehicle was stopped by police in Levin.

The occupants of the vehicle, a 20-year-old man, a 19-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, were arrested and have been charged with firearms offences.

All three are set to appear in the Levin District Court today.

Macleay said the Turakina Valley area had a serious problem with people hunting recklessly at night, and residents were fed up with having to deal with it.

He knew of at least four incidents in the past few weeks.

‘‘We’re all sick of this nonsense and we’re ready for it to end.

‘‘They come out here spotlighting and shooting anything that moves. A lot of them shoot from the road but they’ll come [on to your property] as well.’’

Macleay said his daughter lives a few kilometres up the road, and two weeks ago hunters with spotlights fired shots metres from her house, which was clearly visible from the road.

‘‘They had to know it was there but they were shooting pretty much right in the direction of the house. It’s just ridiculous.’’

Federated Farmers Manawatu president James Stewart said farmers were increasingly irritated by poachers and trespassers putting them at risk.

Farmers were often happy to let people hunt on their property if asked but if they weren’t aware of the hunters, people or animals might get hurt.

‘‘When people come into our communities and start disrespecting our farmers and their property like this it starts to seem like the old west. But the last thing we want is farmers to start shooting back. It’s best to ring the police.’’