Wildlife officer arrives

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 29, 10 December 1985, Page 7

Wildlife officer arrives

John Heapy has recently arrived in the Waimarino as the new wildlife officer based in Raetihi. John is reasponsible for the Waimarino district of the central North Island Conservancy, a wide area bounded approximately by Taumarunui, Waiouru, Kakatahi and the Wanganui River. His responsibilities, which are similarly wide, include the management of fresh water trout fisheries, game management, preservation of wet lands, environmental work such as checking on stream pollution, public relations and law enforcement. In law enforcement he is assisted by volunteer wildlife rangers in issuing fishing licences and ensuring that regulations regarding trout fishing and duck shooting are followed and that protected species, such as

pigeons and kakas, are not harmed. One of his more unusual tasks in this district is responsibility for the last true wild horse herd left in the country in the hills behind Waiouru. John is already working closely with local groups, including the local Waimarino ward which evolved out of the old acclimatisation society and which is planning to build angling platforms in the Rangataua Lakes at the Ohakune Domain. John and his wife Heather are looking forward to their life here after four years on Murupara — though they hope the weather picks up soon! John enjoys trout fishing, hunting and rafting and says he has heard that there is good duck shooting in this area and is looking forward to sampling it.

Both John and Heather are looking forward to the arrival of their new departmental house on the empty section next to the wildlife office in Ameku Road, Raetihi, and to developing a garden there. John can be telephoned at 54-48 1 at the office or 54-540 after hours.