Wild horse killed in Desert Rd crash

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 534, 3 May 1994, Page 3

Wild horse killed in Desert Rd crash

By

Michele

Monaghan

A wild horse was killed after it and a car collided on State Highway One at about 3.30am on 26 April. The four occupants of the car were not hurt but the Kaimanawa horse was killed in the accident. Local policeman, Constable Dale Jenkins, said three horses were crossing the road, the third hesitating, then bolting in front of the car. The accident happened about one kilometre north of the Waiouru dump and the vehicle was travelling north at an estimated 1 00 km/h. The vehicle was towed back to Shell Waiouru where workers said the four occupants of the car were lucky to be alive. It was lucky the horse impacted with the top of the car and "didn't flip up

on to the canopy", they said. A band of about 10 of the protected horses have been regularly sighted trotting around the Waiouru dump area. Captain Phil Hughes of S03 Operations, says it is important that people are aware that there is a problem. "This time we were lucky," he said. Dave Lumley of the Department of Conservation in Turangi was tasked with shooting the band involved with this last incident but couldn't find them. Aerial surveys indicate the band has moved eastwards. Bill Fleury, senior conservation officer at W anganui , says they are looking at way s of controlling the situation. "Exactly 12 months ago a truck hit a horse," he

said. The horse was killed. Doug Montgomery of Shell Waiouru, recalls a van colliding with a horse about two to three years ago. "The van was a mess". Mr Montgomery thinks the lady in the van was quite severely hurt. The horse actually went right through the windscreen in that particular incident. DoC and the Waiouru Army Training group are working together to come up with solutions to their problems. The first problem being that Kaimanawa horses are protected, the second being the Army training area is home for many species of endangered plants and grasses. "It's important to preserve the balance," said Capt Hughes.

The latest census has shown a count of around 1600 wild horses, although there is "still some checking to go" said Mr Fleury. A protected natural area survey conducted throughout New Zealand to establish areas that should be protected, has concluded that Waiouru has seven areas in need of protection. Mr Fleury said some areas, especially "a bit further north", could not maintain any horses at all. Waiouru has the only stand of native red tussock in the North Island and is a unique environment. Capt Hughes said DoC and the army are working together to make a "responsible decision instead of a quick one". Ultimately DoC has the legal right to decide what to do with the horses, he said.