Kevin,
Regarding your query about reserve
contribution fees, I attach the paper that was presented to
Councilor's (Eastern Region F&G) for consideration at
the 2017 August meeting - which they accepted. This paper
explains most of the details, and clearly states that the
ballot holders will still be responsible for their own
maimai / stand maintenance.
This contribution will be for [HERE,S A NOVEL CONCEPT TAKE IT OF THE 100 BUKS A YEAR YOU ALREADY GET OF GAMEBIRD HUNTERS???]
wetland habitat* - e.g. Spraying pest plants, track
upgrades etc. Please appreciate that we are struggling to
keep up with wetlands that are perched and massive influxes
of pest plants blocking water ways and invading ponds. We
also have to seriously take into consideration Health &
Safety requirements placed upon us.
At this stage, it is proposed that all
ballot holders be charged this fee - not stands. Therefore
each ballot hunter will be charged at time of ballot [ SO YOU ARE NOW UP FOR 130 T0 140 BUKS BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO YOUR POZZIE??]
application or re-confirmation. Most stands have two hunters
so two fees will be charged in this example. Although not
finalised we estimate this annual contribution fee to be
around the $30 - $40 mark, at current spray, pay and vehicle
rates.
The fee will be payable to Eastern
Region Fish & Game, with a dedicated account for these
funds. These funds will be exclusively for balloted reserves
maintenance only.* As we are annually audited, very
close and accurate accountability will be made of these
funds.
As I am the reserves field officer, initially I will
be accountable for where these funds are directed, but all [ OH GOODY CAN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE LICENCE FEE SPEND AND WHERE THAT GONE /GOING]
decisions will be made in conjunction with our habitat team,
involving Matt McDougall who manages the ballots and
waterfowl bird expert, Eben Herbert who is our legal person,
Nigel Simpson who does most of the ground work, and Andy
Garrick the manager. Obviously not every reserve will see
the funds spent on it initially as some need more work than
others first.
As for your comment about this being
cheeky;*
Firstly one may wish to consider what
those* licence holders get that don't use the reserves
in comparison to those who hold ballots; and secondly one
may wish to consider that our hunting season is actually
four months if you hunt other game birds (not just
mallards)(i.e. pheasants, quail, swans and Pukeko) .[ MMM MAI MAI HUNTING FOR PHEASANTS AND QUAIL WOW HOW MANY PEOPLE EVEN BOTHER WITH SWAN??]
This proposal was seriously discussed
and is a measured cost that we must endure to have effective
breeding, rearing and hunting habitat within our region. The
remnant wetlands we have in our region are only a fraction
of what was once there and we need to effectively manage
them for sustainability of waterfowl hunting into the
future. As stated this is also a problem that other Fish [,MMM FISH EELS AND BAIT GROW IN WETLANDS ???}
& Game regions are experiencing and similar methods of
fund contributions are being considered in these regions
also.
Ultimately, we hope most ballot holders
see this as a small cost of their recreation, similar to a
tank of gas which would normally be the cost of doing a
day's travel to their reserve stand to undertake these
works.
And if current ballot holders aren't happy they can [SO PAY UP OR PISS OFF EASTERN VOTERS YOU MUST BE SO PROUD??]
approach the elected Council to raise their concerns, or
alternatively not enter the ballot process and find other
places to hunt.
I hope the attached paper and above
comments detail sufficient information to answer your
questions, and if not feel free to give me a call.
Regards,
John Meikle
Fish & Game Officer
New Zealand Fish & Game – Eastern
Region
T********* 07 357 5501
M*********021 375 480
E*********jmeikle@fishandgame.org.nz
1130 Paradise Valley Road, Rotorua
Private Bag 3010, Rotorua 3046
www.fishandgame.org.nz
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