Hunters happy legal case dropped
A GROUP of Fiordland hunters are claiming a win after Forest & Bird dropped legal action they feared would stop them hunting wild elk.
Forest & Bird had asked for a judicial review of a legality of Fiordland Wapiti Foundation’s agreement with the Department of Conservation made 18 years ago.
The agreement allowed hunters to pay for ballot access to recreationally hunt wild elk, which are also known as wapiti, in the area to control the population. They also carried out other pest control and conservation work.
Forest & Bird had said the agreement did not comply with the National Parks Act, which prioritised protecting indigenous ecosystems over introduced species. However, the two organisations have now reached an agreement to work together and forgo legal proceedings in the High Court until a later date.
The pause will allow the parties and Doc to investigate a way of managing wapiti to meet the interests of both organisations.
Wapiti Foundation spokesman Roy Sloan said the chance of the judicial review showed how vulnerable the foundation was and he hoped legislation would help solidify its position.
‘‘We need to fight this battle now and make sure we’re not looking over our shoulders going forward.’’
Mr Sloan said a judicial review would have been a waste of both organisations’ time and money. He said the agreement to work together was a win for hunters, but they would look at it suspiciously.
However, it was a ‘‘hell of an opportunity’’ to have the wapiti herd declared a herd of special interest, he said.
‘‘[Forest & Bird] have acknowledged to us that’s one of the big possibilities they’re willing to discuss going forward.
‘‘If they’re willing to sit down and talk, we’re the same. We’re going with the right intentions and I hope they’re coming with the right intentions as well.’’
He said the declaration of special interest would elevate wapiti above a stoat or a rand and it could be more carefully managed with more monitoring.
Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki said the organisation welcomed the opportunity to work with the foundation and Doc on a critical issue.
‘‘Rather than going to court, we now want to discuss the issue with the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and Doc to agree on a solution that protects our precious native biodiversity and maintains the integrity of Fiordland National Park.
‘‘We don’t believe that the solution would require the extermination of wapiti. We expect the herd will continue to provide an important hunting opportunity and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation could continue its valuable conservation work,’’ Ms Toki said.
The New Zealand Game Animal Council also welcomed the agreement.