Tau faces kukupa charges in court

Sonny Tau, left. Photo / John Stone

Ngapuhi Runanga chairman Sonny Tau will appear in court in Invercargill facing charges of hunting/killing native wood pigeons and possessing the protected birds.

Mr Tau was found with five kukupa, or kereru as they are also known, in his possession at Invercargill Airport on June 16 while about to board a flight home.

When news of the alleged possession broke Mr Tau issued a statement apologising for his actions.

"I also wish to say this was a mistake, which I deeply regret.

"The laws around native bird protection are important and to be respected by all, myself included," Mr Tau said at the time.

He has not made any further comment on the issue since, despite repeated efforts by the Northern Advocate to contact him.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) said yesterday it had laid charges in the Invercargill District Court against a 61-year-old Northland man for the alleged hunting/killing and possession of a protected species under the Wildlife Act.

DoC said Raniera Teitinga (Sonny) Tau, 61, had been summonsed to appear in the Invercargill District Court on July 24.

Two charges had been laid in respect to the hunting/killing and possession of protected wildlife, namely New Zealand pigeon/kereru/kukupa.

The furore around the alleged offences led to Mr Tau stepping down as chairman of Tuhoronuku, the body the Government has mandated to act in Ngapuhi Treaty of Waitangi settlement claims.

There have also been calls for Mr Tau to resign as head of the Ngapuhi Runanga.

But Te Runanga-a-iwi o Ngapuhi said while it was disappointed with Mr Tau's actions, and it did not condone them or the taking of kukupa, he would remain as chairman.

The runanga would not comment further while the DoC investigation was ongoing.

The DoC will be making no further comment in relation to the case as the matter is now before the court.

Native wood pigeons have been protected since 1921. They are a fully protected species and cannot be taken or held without authorisation under the Wildlife Act.

Maximum penalties for the unlawful killing or taking of protected species are a fine of $100,000 and/or imprisonment of two years.

The kukupa is the only disperser of large fruits, such as those of karaka and taraire, that New Zealand has. The disappearance of the kukupa would be a disaster for the regeneration of native forests, the DoC says. The bird can weigh up to 650g.

It is found in most lowland native forests of the North, South and Stewart/Rakiura Islands and many of their neighbouring islands.

It also eats leaves, buds and flowers, the relative amounts varying seasonally and regionally.

In Northland the birds mostly eat fruit, especially miro.