Whanganui Rural Community Board chairman Grant Skilton said poaching was a concern for all rural property owners. Photo / Bevan Conley
Whanganui Rural Community Board chairman Grant Skilton said poaching was a concern for all rural property owners. Photo / Bevan Conley
A Whanganui River Rd resident says poachers have been using her family's land at Atene to shoot deer with incidents increasing over the past few weeks and authorities are reminding hunters of the rules.
"In the last month in particular there's been ongoing poaching on the awa," Sandi Ranginui said.
"As well as that, there's been shooting off a boat, which I'm sure is a 'no no'.
"That's definitely a safety concern, and someone's going to get hurt one day. I just hope it's not one of mine, because we're the ones that are here.
Ranginui said she had reported these incidents to the police.
She thought hunters were getting permits from DoC (Department of Conservation), and then coming onto private land from the neighbouring reserves.
Department of Conservation Whanganui senior ranger Sue Nicholson said conservation land was not always fenced from private land so it was up to hunters to make sure they knew where they are and whether they can hunt there.
"The DoC website provides clear areas of public conservation land that are able to be hunted with a valid permit," Nicholson said.
"This is how accidents happen in a hunting area, because they (poachers) don't know who's out there.
"Just yesterday a couple of sheep up our road were slaughtered as well. Good luck to whoever got them, but they could have at least cleaned up the mess.
"I know times are tough, but it's tough for all of us."
Whanganui Senior Constable and rural liaison officer Keith Butters said the penalty for unlawful hunting was a maximum fine of $100,000 and/or two years' imprisonment.
"Poaching is an ongoing issue in and around rural Whanganui," Butters said.
"If offenders are identified or caught unlawfully hunting, police can seek forfeiture of all hunting equipment including firearms, dogs, hunting gear, and vehicles being used.
"If you see a suspicious vehicle in your area or hear gun shots on a rural road, please call police on 111.
Whanganui Rural Community Board chairman Grant Skilton said unauthorised access to land was a "real concern for all rural property owners", but the presence of CCTV cameras in the region's outlying areas had helped to catch some offenders in the act and secure prosecutions.
"The security cameras have proven to be very effective deterrents over the last couple of years," Skilton said.
In terms of the theft or unlawful slaughter of livestock, Skilton said he hadn't received many reports of incidents as of late, although more remote areas could still be a target.
