DOC sends warning to poachers and other lawbreakers

The Director General of DOC Lou Sanson is warning poachers and others acting illegally on public conservation land that they now have more chance of getting caught.

DOC has unveiled a new National Compliance Strategy which places greater emphasis on enforcing laws which are designed to protect our unique wildlife and special places.

Lou Sanson says DOC will be undertaking more investigations and significantly stepping up the monitoring of concessionaires in the next three years in response to DOC permitted tourism operators who have seen and reported an increasing number of tourism operators working in NZ without concessions.

Poaching in marine reserves and breaching whitebait regulations remain the most common form of offending he says. “But we also see regular wilful killing of protected species, illegal land encroachment, timber theft and the organised smuggling of wildlife and endangered species.”

“We will also be looking for any under reporting of activity for those operating on public conservation land who are not paying their fair share,” Lou Sanson says. “This is particularly important in the years ahead with rapidly increasing visitor numbers and the need to put this revenue towards restoring New Zealand’s unique nature which so many come to experience.”

There are currently more than 4,000 concessions and permits issued by DOC.

“DOC is responsible for managing more than a third of New Zealand’s land area and we want to make sure we are doing so in a way that supports and protects conservation and is fair for all users.”

DOC is also asking people to be our eyes and ears and help by reporting suspicious or illegal activity to our 24-hour hotline 0800 DOC HOT.

www.doc.govt.nz/national-compliance-strategy

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