Tourism industry operators are pleading for the government to halt DoC’s plan for a mass killing of Himalayan Tahr,
saying the animals provide hundreds of jobs and a multi-million dollar benefit to the country.
Under a controversial 2020-21 plan which came into effect yesterday, DoC will significantly increase the number of tahr
it kills, including exterminating all animals in national parks.
The Tahr Foundation has asked the High Court for an injunction to stop DoC going ahead with the mass slaughter.
Tahr hunting makes a highly valuable contribution to the South Island economy, bringing in tens of millions of tourist
dollars every year. The industry sustains hundreds of local jobs, including guides, accommodation and helicopter
operators and retailers.
The Professional Hunting Guides Association says its members are shocked by DoC’s decision to kill much of the tahr
resource they rely on.
Guides Association President James Cagney says the news has sent them reeling.
“This plan is a real blow. It would effectively decimate the tahr population in the Southern Alps and if successful will
throw hundreds of people out of work,” Mr Cagney says.
“What DoC is planning couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Covid pandemic has already hit our industry hard and now
with no disclosure of the draft plan during consultation, DoC is going to make things even worse.
“We wanted help from the government to see us through this rough patch but instead what we have got are plans to
decimate our livelihood,” he says.
James Cagney says the Guides’ Association will be writing to the Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis, the Finance Minister
Grant Robertson and Employment Minister Willie Jackson asking for help.
“Tourism is our lifeblood and we need help to stop this plan to ensure that a viable tahr resource remains when our
booked and rescheduled international hunting clients return when the borders reopen and save hundreds of jobs,” Mr
Cagney says.
“Mr Robertson is also the Minister for Recreation, so he can help on that front too because thousands of New Zealanders
go tahr hunting every year. If DoC is allowed to go ahead with its tahr killing plan, that source of healthy recreation
will be eliminated along with the tahr.”
The Guides Association says they will also be asking Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Industry Aotearoa for help to
preserve their industry.