Ban proposal upsets Fish & Game
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Fish and Game is unimpressed with a proposal to ban hunting dogs from the Ashley Rakahuri River estuary during duck shooting season.
The Waimakariri District Council is consulting on a new Northern Pegasus Bay Bylaw, which includes banning all dogs on the spit and the Ashley Rakahuri River and Saltwater Creek estuary.
The bylaw governs what activities are allowed on the district’s beaches.
The new rules will remove an exemption which has allowed holders of Fish and Game hunting licenses to take their dogs into the estuary area during gamebird hunting season.
The measures are designed to protect ecological values and bird habitats around the estuary and wetlands.
But Fish and Game North Canterbury game bird specialist Matt Garrick was not impressed with the proposed ban.
He said he corresponded with the council a year ago, but had not had any further contact.
‘‘I explained that duck season does not overlap during critical, sensitive periods, such as nesting, so there would be no conflict with dogs used for game bird hunting.’’
He said he requested data to demonstrate game bird hunting and dogs in the winter was having an effect on the estuary's bird life, but had heard nothing further.
The estuary is home to threatened bird species including wrybills, black-bill gulls, banded dotterels, black-fronted terns and pied oystercatchers, some of which are also endangered.
A council spokesperson said staff reached out to Fish and Game North Canterbury in January and May last year to inform the organisation it was conducting a review of the bylaw.
‘‘Based on feedback we received from the public consultation on the bylaw, which ran for three months over summer of 2023-24, we are now proposing to exclude all dogs and this would include hunting dogs.
‘‘We welcome any feedback on the proposed changes to the bylaw from Fish and Game and any other group or individual.’’
Submissions can be made at letstalk.waimakariri.govt.nz... until June 14.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
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