Norwegian tourists kill endangered Kiwi wildlife

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Norwegian tourists kill endangered Kiwi wildlife

3News NZ

By Lachlan Forsyth

The Department of Conservation is investigating whether charges can be brought against a group of visiting hunters from overseas, after they posted pictures of themselves on line killing protected native birds.

The Norwegian hunters are shown taking pot-shots at a variety of game in the South Island high country.

Chamois, hare and even wallaby fell victim to the shooters.

But it's the shooting of a totally protected kereru that has conservation minister Kate Wilkinson fuming.

“I'm appalled. I think it's despicable” she said.

The men, who only give their first names, spend the rest of their time shooting, fishing and rubbing sunscreen on each other.

Killing a native wood pigeon can earn a $100,000 fine or six months in prison.

Ms Wilkinson doesn’t think this goes far enough.

“Is that enough? I don't think it is. Personally I’d like to stop these guys ever coming back into the country.”

The hunters also killed and prepared a protected paradise shelduck

Ric Cullinane, from Fish and Game says it is not only the death of the animals which is disturbing.

“They've broken laws around hunting without a license, hunting outside a season and using a rifle” he explains.

Mr Cullinane says ignorance is no excuse.

“There's no information given to visitors about hunting regulations, but I’d be surprised if people's attitudes were they could come here and just lay waste to our wildlife” he says.

Ms Wilkinson is devastated at the impact the hunters have had.

We spend a lot of time and effort protecting our native birds and cherishing our native birds and to have idiots like that shoot them. I think it's just horrific.”

Authorities believe the men are now well out of range in Norway.

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Comments

13/10/2010 10:27:58 p.m.

Ray Foxley wrote:

Posion drop on Rangitoto Islands.

Department of Conservation found 300 pukeko and 250 paradise ducks had been killed.

Both species are particularly susceptible to eating Brodifacoum baits, and the deaths were expected. Some blackbirds and magpies also died.

31/05/2010 12:15:28 p.m.

Kaitiaki (guardian) wrote:

Ignorant people can stay in their own country and learn how to kill their own deer, birds, and wildlife. Leave ours alone.
They are just low life.

12/05/2010 10:43:41 a.m.

J COURTY wrote:

The Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime should really condemn these guy. If not, shame on you, Norway.

5/05/2010 6:21:25 p.m.

Marion wrote:

It broke my heart to see the footage of those Norwegians killing our native birds. I hope they live to regret their disgusting actions AND I hope that they go to prison for it. I am one angry kiwi...

2/04/2010 12:47:37 p.m.

Wiggi wrote:

There is only one thing to say about these idiots of spoiled rich-man kids from our country: Go shoot yourselves. You are a digrace to our country and should stand trial for your crime in New Zealand instead of in the comfort of Norwegian so-called jails. And I hope the people of New Zealand will accept an appoligy from the rest of us in Norway that condones what these idiots have done.
I hope you rot in hell.....

2/04/2010 10:50:02 a.m.

Erik wrote:

Norway has huge oil & gas resources that pump up their economy and welfare system. For example women are entitled to 1 year’s fully paid maternity leave. The recent "credit crunch" had very little effect in Norway. It is still easy, and the norm, for consumers to borrow large amounts of money. These students would have fairly large student loans. Hence they can afford trips across the world, expensive hunting equipment, partying, alcohol, cars, etc. This type of wealth has unfortunately led to a generation of arrogant, “we are best”, “we can pay our way out of trouble”, “we’ve never done a hard days work” Norwegian youth. Give them a gun (compulsory military service) and watch out! It’s a shame. I hope these men are made to pay a cripplingly hefty donation to DOC at the very least.

PS. to Kåre Norway: the guns were their own, they carried them from Norway and applied for a temporary fire arms licence at the airport in NZ (according to their blogs and various forums on the net)

2/04/2010 10:44:52 a.m.

Erik wrote:

The one who shot the kereru works as a butcher in Norway and often holds seminars on meat and meat preparation. He has previously appeared in articles in the Norwegian press. (Are we allowed to post links to other websites here? Or even their names?) The one who killed the paradise duck with his hands (he says so himself in the video!) is a student at Tromso University. In his blog (which he since closed) he boasts that people should actually pay to watch the video they published on YouTube. Another one of them is a "water marine" student also at Tromso Uni.

They are all active hunters and anglers in Norway. These are not teenagers but adult men aged between 22 - 28 years, and should definitely know better. And for some of them, this was not their first time in NZ. One of them had even been warned by members of a NZ hunting & fishing forum not to shoot birds due to the hefty fines! (You can search and read this on the net!) So they have definitely NO EXCUSE for their appalling behavior and lack of respect. They have totally embarrassed the hunting community in Norway.

The Norwegian penal system, although having some stringent laws/penalties, is very lenient (prisoners are often sent home for weekends or "special leave".) So I would be very surprised if these men received anything more than a warning. (BTW, Norwegian prisons are like hotels in comparison to many other western countries.) Due to the relatively young ages of these men, and that most of them are students, I'm sure the Norwegian government would not press criminal charges, as this would ruin their future careers and work opportunities. (A criminal record means no entry to the USA for example.) It's a shame they weren't caught before they left NZ…

2/04/2010 1:43:02 a.m.

Kåre Norway wrote:

Besides of what I have just written above,did they import their own weapons legally into NZ,and having a temporary license for hunting?
Or, were their weapons supplied to them by someone in NZ?
I realy doubt but do not know if hese guys were members og a hunting association in Norway, which is mandatory for getting a license to buy hunting weapons.
A normal reaction to such behaviour is also to be expelled from the association and weaopons confiscated promptly by the police.
I havent seen in norwgian papers anything that confirms they themselves own weapons, they would normally have been confiscated long ago since these guys are under criminal investigation in Norway.
Could the weapons have been supplied to them in NZ?? In case, how is that possible?
Anyone who can answer?

2/04/2010 1:29:19 a.m.

Kåre Norway wrote:

These stupid guys are under investigation by the authity for envirainmenatl crimes, and will get their reaction as deserved.This act is criminal for any norwegisn citizen everywher, and therefore punsihables. The Norw ass. for hunters and Fishermen unconditionally condemns this act act as unacceptable and unworthy.
These are not heroes in their own country, I can assure you of that.
I feel ashamed on behalf of their behaviour, and strongly condemn it.

1/04/2010 9:28:52 p.m.

Oyvind wrote:

This case is currently first page news in Norway, and reading the comments, I can ensure that these guys are far from popular in Norway now. Norwegians are used to fair hunting and should be well aware of strict regulations and how to handle a gun, and the Norwegian wild life fauna needs to be regulated by hunting to keep the wild life species in good shape.
If it's possible to talk about the positive effect of this case (sad as it is) the outcome is that the boys most possible will be punished, and they are already been outed in the media big time. The other positive effect is that all Norwegians now knows that the New Zea-landers cherish their wild life and are willing to protect it. As a Norwegian I am literally ashamed of what these guys did. We can't do anything but apologize and stay by your side.