Farmers trap man with dead sheep

A man has appeared in court charged with stock theft after being captured by farmers on their property.

Farmers sick of losing hundreds of animals to poachers used their vehicles to box in fleeing thieves who had allegedly killed a pregnant ewe.

One of the poachers fled with a firearm across paddocks towards a river while a second person remained in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with the dead sheep when he realised there was no way past the farmers who had blocked either end of a rural road.

Following the incident police issued a safety warning to farmers not to confront poachers but to take vehicle details and a description of the people involved.

The drama started about 7pm on Saturday when a person hunting legally for pigs spotted two men dragging a sheep through a paddock towards Monument Rd, near Towai.

The man alerted a local farmer and soon other farmers in the area were mobilised into action.

The fleeing poachers were blocked at one end of Monument Rd so did a u-turn and were chased until they reached a one-way bridge where a farmer had parked another vehicle.

"One fella took the rifle and ran off. We knew they had a gun because that's what they killed the sheep with," said one farmer, who did not want to be named for fear of retribution.

"We had them boxed in with our vehicles ... he wasn't going anywhere.

"One of the farmers up here loses about 200 sheep a year - that's about $20,000. There were a couple of cattle taken a few weeks ago and that's another $2000. We've had enough." Police arrested a 47-year-old Kawakawa man.

Federated Farmers estimated stock theft and poaching cost the farming community $120 million each year.

Northland Federated Farmers president Roger Ludbrook said stock rustling and slaughter was a big cost to farmers.

"It's a real bugger. People are stealing farmers' livelihoods and it's comparable to burglary. People are coming on to private property and stealing."

Far North Area Commander Inspector Wendy Robilliard warned farmers not to approach poachers but instead observe and take down vehicle details and descriptions of offenders.

"This person had a firearm and it could have ended up a very dangerous situation. Don't confront them you just don't know what they are going to do."

She said while it was a distressing situation for farmers with dead stock, it was best to let police locate offenders.

Theft of stock is punishable by a maximum seven years in jail. Anyone found guilty of selling stolen meat can be charged under the Animal Products Act, face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said a 47-year-old Kawakawa man will appear in the Whangarei District Court on Friday charged with theft of stock. She said police were following strong leads in relation to the second man involved.