Opinion: Slim pickings for shooters

Photo / File

Duck shooting ends this month, and it's been pretty tough just bagging one mallard.

There are plenty of geese, but the interest to hunt them is not there.

Water fowl have been pretty patchy on most lakes, and non-existent in the harbours. A few limit bags have been shot over drains and rivers, and rafts of ducks have been spotted beyond the breakers along 90 Mile Beach.

The Beachcomber Restaurant, in Kaitāia, is putting on a game hunters' dinner on July 21. It's going to be a cracker, with owners Daniel and Stephanie keen to show the locals what game food tastes like. With a guest speaker there will be a lot of humour. Bookings are being taken now at the restaurant.

There is no entry into the Parengarenga Harbour. Approximately seven months ago the Parengarenga Trust Board locked the gate to both campers and recreational fishing Reason one, the mess the campers leave behind. And two, those who abuse the key system to the gate, i.e. allowing others (mates) through the gate without paying. It's an ongoing battle, and the trust has had enough.

Only recently the fence to the gate was cut. Regardless of this the many who abide by the rules are fed up and are asking, "Who gives the trust the authority to keep them out of the harbour, which belongs to everyone?".

They are aware the land between the gate to the boat ramp is private, and now are asking what the Far North District Council is doing about it. As a councillor I have had many disgruntled phone calls. The council does maintain the road to the gate, and recently fixed up the wharf, costing thousands of dollars. So is the council in a position to put up a ramp?

The problem here is commercial fishing will move in, a topic the trust is very hard on.
The Parengarenga Trust Board needs to act quickly on their two problems. Toilets and running water are a must for campers. A phone call to Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis for finance could be a good thing.

And they need to man the gate. There is no alternative.

I applaud the board for the great job they have done managing the harbour, but they need to realise they cannot hold the public to ransom.

And that's how Mat sees it.