Discussions between the Game Animal Council (GAC) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have resulted in some positive changes to where the Department will focus tahr control outside Aoraki/Mt Cook and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks. Reallocation of hours between and within management units
Increased fire dangers are forecast for Otago and Southland on Wednesday as predicted gale force winds cover the regions. Last week strong winds fanned many fires across Otago, keeping firefighters busy. Fire and Emergency New Zealand is asking people who have burnt in the last two months to check o
The Game Animal Council welcomes greater involvement in the implementation of the 2020-21 Tahr Control Operational Plan outside Aoraki/Mt Cook and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks and will engage constructively with DOC to balance conservation values with sensible game animal management. However,
The Game Animal Council is welcoming Conservation Week and highlighting the great conservation and community-led volunteer work done by hunters through the ‘Hunters for Conservation’ #huntingisconservation badge. “Hunters spend a lot of time in our remote areas and are extremely passionate about con
The Department of Conservation (DOC) says hunters seeking a trophy Himalayan tahr can now access new maps showing where mature bulls were seen during recent control operations. Last month’s High Court decision allowed DOC to undertake up to 125 hours of control while it consults the Tahr Plan Implem
The release of the report, Managing our estuaries by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton this week reinforces Environment Southland’s direction for addressing issues affecting estuaries. The report has two key recommendations: 1. include estuaries as part of Freshwater Man
Businesses producing harmful products such as tyres, plastic packaging and electronics will soon have to start cleaning up their own trash. The new government policy, which was announced by Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage, aims to shift the burden of waste management from communities and
Southland needs full support from Central Government to accelerate the growth of open ocean salmon farming following the announcement that the Tiwai Smelter is closing next year. Mark O’Connor, chair of the Southland Aquaculture Working Group, says the Government urgently needs to consider passing s
