23 May 2014

Game Animal Council Has First Meeting

Associate Conservation Minister and UnitedFuture leader has welcomed the inaugural meeting of the Game Animal Council being held in Wellington this weekend.

The Council was established by legislation promoted by Mr Dunne and passed by Parliament last year, as part of UnitedFuture’s 2008 and 2011 confidence and supply agreements with the National-led Government.

The Council’s primary function is to represent the interests of the recreational hunting sector, on both the public and commercial estates.

Speaking to the Council this morning, Mr Dunne spoke of his “nine year dream”, begun during the term of the previous Labour Government to establish the Council, and his “absolute delight” at attending its inaugural meeting.

“I do feel a little of the sense of the parent whose child is about to leave home: apprehensive and excited about what lies ahead for them, but confident that they will do a great job.

“The Game Animal Council will have an important working alongside the Department of Conservation in managing the country’s game animal resource, consistent with wider conservation strategy,” he said.

Mr Dunne paid tribute to the many people and organisations involved in the establishment of the Council, including Hon Margaret Austin (who chaired the original pest management strategy committee which recommended the establishment of the Council) and Garry Ottman who chaired the establishment committee after 2008.

A photograph of the Game Animal Council with Mr Dunne (with chairman Don Hammond seated to his right) is attached. pic.twitter.com/xcv7Ix4QBo

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