Massive wildlife conference to be held in Christchurch

By ANNE BESTON

Researchers from around the world are gathering in Christchurch today for one of the biggest wildlife conferences ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

More than 900 scientists and wildlife managers will spend the next five days comparing notes on conservation, wildlife diseases and indigenous people's relationship to native species.

Ngai Tahu is co-hosting the International Wildlife Management Congress along with Landcare Research, the Department of Conservation, the Wildlife Society (USA) and the Australasian Wildlife Management Society.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter is to address the conference today along with Ngai Tahu's Sir Tipene O'Regan, who is expected to raise the thorny issue of harvesting of native species by Maori.

Papers being presented range from leopard conservation in Armenia to wildife stocking rates in South Africa's national parks. There will also be a range of papers from New Zealand researchers.

Landcare Research's Dr Oliver Sutherland said the event would expose New Zealand wildlife managers to a range of international perspectives.