New Zealand First is urging the Department of Conservation to prosecute people who take their dogs into national parks.
The party's conservation spokesman, Edwin Perry, said the department should also ensure dog control regulations were well-publicised and clearly understood.
His statement followed a report that the department was stepping up its controls
on dogs after some recent scares that could have led to the deaths of wild kiwi reintroduced into bush in the Nelson Lakes National Park.
Department spokesman John Wotherspoon said there had been two incidents within 10 days of nine kiwi being taken to their new home on the western side of Lake Rotoiti last month.
The first was when a pig hunter reported that he had lost one of his dogs on the northern side of the lake.
A few days later, two young men were seen in the park with a boxer dog, near where the kiwi were reintroduced.
Mr Wotherspoon said staff were still deciding whether to prosecute them.
Mr Perry said the incidents highlighted the need for action.
"The pig hunter met his obligations in reporting his dog lost but the members of the public who took their dog into the park without a permit may not have been aware that they left themselves open to a maximum fine of $10,000 or a period of imprisonment," he said.
"The havoc which can be created by uncontrolled dogs is well documented.
"DOC needs to have detailed dog control plans with clear penalties for non-compliance and should not be backward in prosecuting people who choose to break the law in this regard."
- NZPA
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
Related information and links
