$11.50 for a block

Just got my unsuccessful request for a hunting block on the blue mountains this morning complete with a nice go fuck yourself letter telling me that in the future it will cost me $11.50 plus a 70 cent stamp to apply and most likely not get a block on the Blue Mountains each month.

My question is how can it cost $11.50 per application per hunter per month to run a ballot?

If there are 100 permit applications per month (I know there are well more than that) that nets them $1150 and seems a bit steep to me, I wonder who the ass wipe consultant was that thought this marvellous plan up?

All I can see happening now is an increase on the already bad poaching problem on the Blue Mountains.

As soon as I work out how to change a PDF to a file I can up load to here (as I can't seem to upload a PDF) i'll post the letter.

open the pdf in a graphix package and save it as a jpeg

for some reason it doesn't want to work, just running it through an online conversion programme now

It's been a long time coming. For well over a year now Doc having been talking about it. Apparently its to cover admin costs etc.

Might stop people from just applying constantly and not using their permits. That happens alot.

Not saying its right though.

It's bull shit, I apply for a block every month and get maybe 1 in 3 that I apply for.

They are meant to be a government department paid for by tax payers. part of their mandate is to provide management of recreational areas under their control and they get funding to achieve that purpose.

letter attached below

Attachment 13046

Attachment 13044

Attachment 13045

It is $20 to apply for a Haast ballot or Thar block because admin costs. Then $50ish if you are successful.
Maybe to stop multiple applications for the best bits?

I wouldn't have too much of a problem if it was a once a year fee, but this is each month if you want to apply for a permit, not just for the roar period, as the blocks are balloted every month on the Blue Mountains.

Yeah I'm gutted too. Takes away a huge amount of freedom. Also there is abosolutly no incentive on DoC's behalf to stream line things, they can just charge what they want. Apparently it costs them $40k a year to run which is divided by about 4000 applications...

Anyway I'm gutted, I will hunt down there less now because of it, and I will be more inclined to shoot what I see to get more bang for my buck....

I can't see how it can cost 40000 a year to manage the blocks, besides they get paid to manage the land, in my opinion it's just the start of a downwards spiral, it will be like England soon where only the super rich can afford to hunt.

Sent from my GT-P5110 using Tapatalk 4

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lostlegend

I can't see how it can cost 40000 a year to manage the blocks, besides they get paid to manage the land, in my opinion it's just the start of a downwards spiral, it will be like England soon where only the super rich can afford to hunt.

Sent from my GT-P5110 using Tapatalk 4

---

I've been waiting for a post like this to come up. As I said in the thread regarding Snapper fishing on the east coast of North island, it's only a matter of time before the school if thought that anybody and everybody who wants to harvest anything from the land or ocean should pay, takes off. I don't have a problem with paying a ballot application fee to hunt specific areas, but I do think its unjustifiable for DoC to charge for this. DoC has a budget and a mandate to manage all recreation and pest control on Crown conservation land. Maybe DoC need a few less managers on six-figure salaries and a few more field officers on the ground to do what DoC should actually be doing, and doing cheaper than they're currently doing it? The Woodhill Fallow heard is managed by a dedicated animal management committee and part of their mandate involves fencing. Obviously this expensive undertaking requires funding and $30 is probably too little for the privilege. Thanks for posting this lostlegend as stuff like this often just happens on a local level and the rest of us are in the dark. We all need to push for private committee management of our wild animal herds in NZ, or I fear you're right, and hunting will become a rich man's sport, eventually collapsing as populations will explode then implode

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lostlegend

I can't see how it can cost 40000 a year to manage the blocks, besides they get paid to manage the land, in my opinion it's just the start of a downwards spiral, it will be like England soon where only the super rich can afford to hunt.

Sent from my GT-P5110 using Tapatalk 4

---

The figures DoC gave were dominated by about $30k for admin, I.E. putting applications into the ballot system. Hence the statement about online applications...
I understand that they need to cover costs now days under this goverment but it just guts me as this is my bread and butter hunting.

Gutted also in regards to this. It is the close to Dunedin and offers some terrific hunting.

I am like wildman and it may mean I hunt it a bit less often, if there is any upside it may prevent multiple ballot applications for Blocks, especially over the rut. Lots of pressure for blocks. Often we go down and dont see any other vehicles at parking spots for the blocks so people book blocks and then dont use them. Maybe the fee will encourage people that have not used their block to make it available for others who can actually use it.

I am also very sceptical in regards to the costs that DOC charge, I honestly cant see the admin cost for this being anywhere near 40k, that is quiet a few hours of work. QAnd to say 40k a year to manage an online booking system...mental!

GUTTED

Dino

Really, you would hunt less because it costs you $11.50? or 34.50 if you got one out of 3 months you applied for? If you applied every month that's 146.50 including postage for a year. Say you get 3 maybe 4 months based on whats said, if you make the most of your your time that's sweet F/A additional cost per trip. I'd bet recent increases in fuel costs would be a bigger burden than that. Doing shit costs money, that's life. Is it really worth saying one would put morals aside and not be selective on whats shot based on a few dollars?

Its not the point. Its the thin end of the wedge. How long before all public land is pay per hunt. Or to take it further pay per access.

Our forfathers liberated animals for all to create a place where all could hunt freely as of right.
Lets not forget that.

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

sad news :-(

I hunt down there a fair bit and to be honest the system is a pain in the ass with gate combos, permit returns and now having to pay.

I only hunt during the week and often at short notice for a morning or afternoon. Not sure i'll be doing that for $11.50.

I wonder if we will be able to do short notice bookings during the week still (ie can they process credit cards over the phone) As often i'd ring at 4:30 to see what was available for the following day.

Wouldn't be surprised if we see and even greater increase in poaching now.

An other thought, next thing the animal numbers down there will be deemed to be too high (already shitloads) and we'll be funding a 1080 drop to thin them out.... Arhh the cynic in me

There are already 1080 drops in the Bluies on a regular basis.

I am with VC, this is the thin edge of the wedge, whats next?

Dino

yip its all a pain in the bum, BUT be thankful that we are able to hunt. we are pretty lucky here in NZ.

I dont hunt there allot but after being at some of the meetings DOC had on this i would rather pay for a permit to hunt it like we do in so many other areas than have it go back to an open block system which was the other option. The problem is it is such a popular area to hunt and warrants a permit system so we have to pay. Thankfully most other areas are free unless through a ballot period.

I got my letter today. I was a bit horrified actually, not being aware of it coming.

The whole thing smacks of - well if you want recreational hunting areas (DOC want to get rid of them) then here you go, this is what you get.

We were already paying for the cost of them mailing out the permits, no one at DOC has been putting kill returns in the computer for years (I checked) and I am not sure how they come up with the figure of $30-40K admin cost at all.

Sounds like revenue gathering just because they can, and too push hunters into wanting an open block system, which is what DOC are after.

They say that within a year they will have the ballot online....yet strangely, it will still cost you that money to apply.

You'd think they would be sponsoring us with all the deer we kill for them, instead of them treating hunters like this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Beast

Really, you would hunt less because it costs you $11.50? or 34.50 if you got one out of 3 months you applied for? If you applied every month that's 146.50 including postage for a year. Say you get 3 maybe 4 months based on whats said, if you make the most of your your time that's sweet F/A additional cost per trip. I'd bet recent increases in fuel costs would be a bigger burden than that. Doing shit costs money, that's life. Is it really worth saying one would put morals aside and not be selective on whats shot based on a few dollars?

---

Beast its $11.5 PER application, whether you get a block or not. Even if you ring up for one...
Currently I personally "apply" for between 10 and 15 blocks a year. My missus who also hunts would put in between 5 and 10 per year so that is a significant cost to our house hold.
To put it in perspective a family trout licence is ~$150/ year which allows me to catch trout almost anywhere in NZ. A Game Bird licence is ~$70 for the season for a managed population anywhere in the country.
My main issue is that Hunters are paying the full cost for this system and I don’t think DoC have the mandate to do that. They don’t do it for trampers who use tracks? Do you pay an entrance fee when going into a National park to pay for its administration? Do hut fees cover the entire cost of building and being maintained?
DoC do have a mandate to foster recreation and in an RHA, which the Blue mountains is, part of that would be helping pay for the ballot system which has strong support from users (hunters) because it promotes safe use of the resource.

There is a few minutes of TV time outlining the changes to the ballot hunting system on Cue TV.
It will be shown today or Monday unfortunately they could not give me a time.
If you miss it you can find it, once it is shown on:
Youtube channel:
Southtodaynews

What you have to realize is that Doc,like Mpi and the related fishing issues, is run by Economists. They only see things in relation to the Dollar.They quite plainly do not give a fat rats ass about anything else except can it be made to have a revenue stream.
On a slightly different tangent,russel norman of the green party is rabidly against fishing and hunting in ALL forms and woe betide us hunters and fishers if Labout ever makes it into power as the costs of various activites will go through the roof.

Welcome to the nz of the future.