Thread: Hunting permits

My attitude towards DOC was jolted yesterday when I had to pay a visit to a local joinery workshop up here in lil old Whitianga. The door was partially blocked by a huge pile of slabs of 21 mm marine plywood that was cut into aprox 300 x 200 mm boards. I asked the owner out of curiosity what they were for and was a little surprised by the answer.
Order from DOC to make rat traps to go out to (privately owned) great Mercury Island. He had been contracted to simply cut the sheets up to manageable sized pieces to fit onto the charter boat, and was very happy to be getting $80 an hour to do it.

Now they (DOC) have at least two boats up here, but still charter a local to transport people and materials out to the islands instead of making use of their own resources.
The owner of GMI, Sir Michael Faye, has started a campaign to get his island pest free, and I commend that. But I dont see how jo blo should be footing the bill to such an extent.
And ...21 mm ply for rat traps?? Seems a bit OTT to me ffs