Media Statement
25th September 2008
The Big Game Hunting Council Good News for Conservation and Recreation
Today’s announcement by the Minister of Conservation Steve Chadwick and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne that a Big Game
Hunting Council and a Wild Animal Control Advisory Committee will be established is great news for both conservation and
recreation.
``Deer, chamois, tahr and wild pigs are important recreational, food, trophy and tourism resources and the hunting and
farming of them needs to be managed accordingly,’’ said Tom Williams, Chairman of the Game and Forest Foundation.
A Wild Animal Control Advisory Committee to provide expert advice on specific animal control issues and A Big Game
Hunting Council to manage hunting and farming interests will make major gains for the conservation of indigenous species
and for game animals.
``Recognising our valued introduced species and giving hunting and farming interests a formal role in their management
have been key objectives of the Game and Forest Foundation since our inception.’’
Establishing a Big Game Hunting Council will formalise and facilitate greater participation and the better coordination
and management of the hunting and farming of our large game animals.
For example, over the last three years the hunting of wapiti and red deer in the Wapiti Area of Fiordland National Park
has been coordinated by hunters. This has resulted in a greater reduction of overall deer numbers, but an increase in
the quality of Wapiti. All at no cost to the taxpayer.
``We see the new Big Game Hunting Council building on this model and, being self funded, it will allow organisations
such as the Department of Conservation to better direct its own resources to priority projects such as saving our
threatened species,’’ said Mr Williams
``The Minister of Conservation Steve Chadwick and United Future Leader Peter Dunne are to be congratulated. This is a
win/win for both conservation and the commercial and recreational hunting of deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs.’’
ENDS
Game and Forest is an independent non-profit foundation representing New Zealanders who value our game and forests. Game & Forest promotes sustainable management of game animals as a valuable economic, social, cultural and conservation
resource.