NZ Hunter – August 2019

commencing Monday 22nd July, with

operations expected to be completed by

the 26th of July, again weather dependent.

Once we have final results from the

collared tahr study, unfortunately, we will

need to shoot the animals to recover the

collars as they do not have automated

drop off capability. If aerial 1080 operations

continue in alpine locations we will

need to also test the effect of 1080 baits

on Chamois, which might be quite a

challenge.

Reviewing the Walking

Access Act 2008 and the

Walking Access Commission

The Walking Access Act 2008 (the

Act) is about providing free access

to the outdoors for walking and for

types of access that may be associated

with walking, such as access with firearms,

dogs, bicycles, or motor vehicles. The

Act also set up the New Zealand Walking

Access Commission to deliver the

provisions of the Act. Within that Act was a

provision requiring a review after 10 years

of operation.

In summary, many hunters will have used

the Walking Access Mapping System

(WAMS) for checking public access to

hunting areas and will have benefited

from other work of the Commission. The

GAC strongly supports the continuation

of the Walking Access Commission as a

statutory body under the Walking Access

Act. The ability to access the New

Zealand outdoors for both domestic

and international visitors is essential.

Having a single point of contact agency

that has a statutory mandate, tools and

expertise to address issues surrounding

access to the outdoors is of immense

value to the GAC and the hunting

community. Accessing the resource is a

prerequisite for ability to hunt on public

land. Without the Commission and the Act

it would be left to individual organisations

such as the GAC to deal with these issues,

which would be less successful and

significantly less efficient.

The review does, however, provide an

opportunity to update the Act and the

Commission and to redefine them to

better reflect the changing profile of

recreators and the expansion in types of

access they require. For example, the age

profile of our population is changing, it

is more culturally diverse, people have

less time available and technology has

changed the way people obtain and use

information. The huge increase in hunters

using 4-wheel drives, and aircraft is one

clear example of the need for expansion of

the Act and the Commission’s role.

The Act and the Commission should be

renamed the Outdoor Access Act and

Outdoor Access Commission as a better

reflection that access to the outdoors is

much more than walking. Rather than the

focus on walking, with other access being

subsidiary, the initial objective should be

to provide and inform about all types of

public access and then limit access only

for reasons dictated by the nature of the

specific accessway and the land to be

accessed.

Our full submission can be viewed at:

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.

nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/

Walking-Access-Act-Review-

Submission-final1.pdf

Deer Numbers on the

rise???

We need to give you all a heads up

the GAC has been advised that DOC

will soon be looking at the issue of

deer numbers nationally. What this

means on the ground for hunters we

have yet to establish but spring will soon

be upon us and this is an opportunity for

hunters to get into the hills and get some

meat. Just as we discussed above, the

breeding females are the engine room

of any population so in areas where the

population is medium to high, please take

as many hinds/does as you can. The bonus

is that they are generally the best eating.

Game Animal Council

August / September 2019~ NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE 95

commencing Monday 22nd July, with
operations expected to be completed by
the 26th of July, again weather dependent.
Once we have final results from the
collared tahr study, unfortunately, we will
need to shoot the animals to recover the
collars as they do not have automated
drop off capability. If aerial 1080 operations
continue in alpine locations we will
need to also test the effect of 1080 baits
on Chamois, which might be quite a
challenge.

Reviewing the Walking

Access Act 2008 and the
Walking Access Commission

The Walking Access Act 2008 (the
Act) is about providing free access
to the outdoors for walking and for
types of access that may be associated
with walking, such as access with firearms,
dogs, bicycles, or motor vehicles. The
Act also set up the New Zealand Walking
Access Commission to deliver the
provisions of the Act. Within that Act was a
provision requiring a review after 10 years
of operation.

In summary, many hunters will have used
the Walking Access Mapping System
(WAMS) for checking public access to
hunting areas and will have benefited
from other work of the Commission. The
GAC strongly supports the continuation
of the Walking Access Commission as a

statutory body under the Walking Access

Act. The ability to access the New

Zealand outdoors for both domestic

and international visitors is essential.

Having a single point of contact agency

that has a statutory mandate, tools and

expertise to address issues surrounding

access to the outdoors is of immense

value to the GAC and the hunting

community. Accessing the resource is a

prerequisite for ability to hunt on public

land. Without the Commission and the Act

it would be left to individual organisations

such as the GAC to deal with these issues,

which would be less successful and

significantly less efficient.

The review does, however, provide an

opportunity to update the Act and the

Commission and to redefine them to

better reflect the changing profile of

recreators and the expansion in types of

access they require. For example, the age

profile of our population is changing, it

is more culturally diverse, people have

less time available and technology has

changed the way people obtain and use

information. The huge increase in hunters

using 4-wheel drives, and aircraft is one

clear example of the need for expansion of

the Act and the Commission’s role.

The Act and the Commission should be

renamed the Outdoor Access Act and

Outdoor Access Commission as a better

reflection that access to the outdoors is

much more than walking. Rather than the

focus on walking, with other access being

subsidiary, the initial objective should be

to provide and inform about all types of

public access and then limit access only

for reasons dictated by the nature of the

specific accessway and the land to be

accessed.

Our full submission can be viewed at:

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.

nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/

Walking-Access-Act-Review-

Submission-final1.pdf

Deer Numbers on the

rise???

We need to give you all a heads up

the GAC has been advised that DOC

will soon be looking at the issue of

deer numbers nationally. What this

means on the ground for hunters we

have yet to establish but spring will soon

be upon us and this is an opportunity for

hunters to get into the hills and get some

meat. Just as we discussed above, the

breeding females are the engine room

of any population so in areas where the

population is medium to high, please take

as many hinds/does as you can. The bonus

is that they are generally the best eating.

Game Animal Council

August / September 2019~ NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE 95