The deadline for comments on heli-hunting is now closed.
Heli-hunting updates
What is heli-hunting?
Heli-hunting is defined as an activity where an aircraft is used to take a paying client hunting (generally for chamois or tahr), and possibly a guide, for trophy animals.
The activity generally involves the helicopter being used to search for and find the trophy, to position the hunter on the ground and, if necessary, the helicopter prevents the animal from escaping until it is shot by the hunter. The helicopter then recovers the hunter and the trophy.
Feedback was sought on these documents:
Background
WARO and heli-hunting
Earlier this year DOC consulted on a framework for wild animal recovery operations (WARO). Since then concessions for commercial recovery of deer carcasses (and minor game animals) for food processing and the live capture and conveying of deer have been completed. These concessions became operative on 1 December 2009.
View the National WARO concession permits.
Heli-hunting is a specific activity under the WARO framework and the department now plans to create separate concessions for this activity.
On 9 December 2009 a letter was sent to all of the helicopter operators who have applied, or may have an interest in applying for this activity. This letter set out how DOC intends to manage the application process, the timeframe, the basis for operators carrying on their activity while their concessions are processed and some components of a draft set of operating conditions.
View the letter sent to helicopter operators (PDF, 102 K)
Heli-hunting mapping exercise
A computer disc was sent with the letter. This disc mapped the public conservation land in the South Island. Land that does not have National Park or Conservation Act General Policy, Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) or management plan constraints is shown as available for application and consideration through the concessions process.
Heli-hunting in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park consultation
As a result of this exercise some land within national parks was identified as important to heli-hunting, but is not currently considered to be open for application. The department has therefore undertaken to consider amending the relevant management plans where there is a good case to do so. The first to be considered is the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Management Plan.
The consultation Heli-hunting in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is also closed.
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