Dunne Peter: General Debate 
Dunne Peter: General Debate 
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Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I begin by expressing my regret at the circumstances that led to the resignation earlier today of the Hon Darren Hughes as a member of Parliament and wishing him well for his future. 
I feel a little bit like the gap between the two opposing forces at this stage because I do not want to join the debate that has been taking place; I want to talk instead about a significant announcement made earlier today that will have vast positive implications for the recreational hunting sector in New Zealand. I want to talk in particular about the decision to establish a new Game Animal Council as a statutory body. The idea was borne out of two confidence and supply agreements by United Future with both the previous Labour Government and the current National Government and is the end of a long progression of events that have had a very positive outcome. I acknowledge at the outset the four Ministers of Conservation under both Governments and a variety of other people who have played a role in bringing things to the stage they are today—in particular the Hon Margaret Austin who chaired the original consultation panel established in 2006 for the work she did and Garry Ottmann who chaired the establishment committee that was set up after the 2008 election to oversee the development of the council. 
We have now probably the most significant development for recreational hunting in New Zealand since the passage of the Wild Animal Control Act over 30 years ago. I have had some people say to me that the completion of this exercise is really the culmination of work that was under way at the time that Fish and Game was established as a statutory body in 1990. We will now see a process whereby deer chamois tahr and pigs will be taken out of the status of being pests and treated as game animals and they will therefore be able to come within the ambit of the Game Animal Council and managed as such. The good news is that access to the game animal resource will remain free for all New Zealand hunters. We will finance the arrangement by a levy on the trophies taken by overseas hunters coming to this country plus a very small Government contribution. 
This is a win-win because it enables the growing hunting sector—the commercial hunting sector recreational hunting sector and those who come from overseas—to enjoy what they do best to therefore help manage the resource which in some people’s eyes does have a pest status. It is also good news for our environment. I welcome the support we have received already for this initiative from a number of organisations that have an interest in this area. I am very disappointed that the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society has chosen to take a negative and somewhat inaccurate view of things. This is not about charging New Zealand hunters for accessing a resource they have always enjoyed; in fact the price will be borne by offshore hunters who come to this country. 
It is about a better way of managing a resource. It is a better way of ensuring that those New Zealanders who like to go out and enjoy the great outdoors and hunt those animals are able to do so in better surroundings. We recognise that a significant number of New Zealanders are in that category. The original panel received over 4500 submissions arguing for this very proposition. All the consultations discussions and meetings that have been held up and down the country with interested parties during the establishment committee process have shown very strong support for the initiative. 
Today is the culmination of a process that has been under way for a very long time. It marks a new dawn for those who enjoy hunting. It is part of the New Zealand heritage for many New Zealanders and it will be welcomed up and down New Zealand. Once and for all it ensures that the interests of the recreational hunting sector and the burgeoning commercial hunting role plus some of the more exclusive lodges will get a say in the policy and management of the resources which they have always argued for. This will lead to better information and a much safer environment all round and it will also ensure we are able to deal with the fundamental problems that have led us for so long to treat those animals as pests. 
Perhaps in an oasis of calm in the political storm around us it is timely to take the opportunity today to celebrate this positive initiative to acknowledge the work of those who have brought it about and to wish the council well for its future.