Man caught poaching wood pigeons

A 46-year-old Northland man has been arrested after he was allegedly caught poaching wood pigeons during a surveillance operation run by the police and the Department of Conservation.

The man was arrested after shots were heard being fired in an area of native forest south of Hokianga Harbour.

As the man left the forest just after dark, he was found by police and DoC staff with a shotgun and six kukupa, a threatened species in Northland, inside a backpack. The shotgun, pack and birds were seized.

The man was expected to appear in the Kaikohe District Court on firearms charges and faced further charges under the Wildlife Act which carry a maximum penalty of six months in jail.