Shooting kukupa

Forest and Bird, Issue 279, 1 February 1996, Page 3

Shooting kukupa

Wellington

J. Chris Horne

"Pigeon Patrol" (November) made me sad, angry and bewildered. I am sad that the population of kereru (kukupa) continues to decline. Obviously loss of habitat, and predation of nests are among the main causes. Iam angry that criminals are hastening the decline by shooting these great forest birds, despite the vital role pigeons play in maintaining forest ecosystems, despite the fact that they are totally protected and despite the efforts of DoC staff and voluntary rangers. I am bewildered to read that a learned academic, Dr Margaret Mutu, a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority, has encouraged iwi to exercise their right to harvest native wildlife. No one has the right to kill totally protected native species. No one, anywhere, at any time. Did Dr Mutu list her opinions on the right of individuals to breach the Wildlife Act in the CV she presented to the Minister of Conservation when she was nominated for appointment to the NZCA? If she did not, is she guilty of deception of the minister, the government, Parliament and the people of New Zealand? The final blow in the article is the astounding revelation that legislation protecting Northland’s native wildlife is enforced by two part-time DoC rangers and some volunteer rangers, while in Tongariro/ Taupo trout fishery, three fulltime DoC rangers and eleven warrant-holding DoC staff enforce the legislation protecting alien species which devas-

tate indigenous aquatic ecosystems! Clearly our priorities for funding the enforcement of legislation protecting native and alien species need reversing urcentlyv.