Source: New Zealand Police
Wairarapa Police would like to remind the public that trespassing on private land to hunt is illegal and carries consequences.
Police take reports of people shooting from the roadside, poaching, and spotlighting on farmland and forestry blocks very seriously and participating in such activities could cost you your firearms licence.
Wairarapa Area Prevention Manager, Senior Sergeant Gill Flower says the rules around firearm use have changed and are strictly enforced.
“We understand how passionate people are about hunting, but the old times of being able to shoot a deer on your way into a spot, or from the road are over.
“We don’t want hunters to make a mistake that may end up with your firearms licence being revoked,” she says.
When you hunt without permission, and cross someone’s land, you are putting yourself and other legal hunters at risk.
Lawful hunting parties are often not expecting to come across other hunters when they are operating on private property. The chance of a hunting-related injury, or even death, increases significantly for all involved.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe on their property; if someone came onto your property uninvited with a firearm, you would be concerned too.
“With Spring grass and better weather arriving, we know hunting activities will increase – and so will Police presence.
“Police will be actively patrolling rural areas with pine forestry and access to local forest parks, with particular focus on illegal hunting with spotlights, and CCTV will also be operating in high-risk areas,” Senior Sergeant Flower says.
Information on the rules around hunting can be found on Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority: Hunting access and unlawful hunting activities | Firearms Safety Authority New Zealand
“We understand majority of hunters are following the rules and don’t want the ones participating in illegal activities to ruin it for everyone.
“So, we urge you to please report any suspicious activity to Police immediately, including suspicious vehicles or people in your local area – this will also assist us with where our patrols need to be,” she says.
You can report any illegal hunting activities by calling 111 if it is happening now, or 105 if it is after the fact.
If you see trespassers on your property with firearms, do not approach them, call Police immediately on 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
