More complaints about people shooting at night on public land have been fielded since a woman was shot dead while camping near Turangi at the weekend.Rosemary Margaret Ives, 25, was on a camping holiday when she was shot on Friday night by a hunter who al
More complaints about people shooting at night on public land have been fielded since a woman was shot dead while camping near Turangi at the weekend.
Rosemary Margaret Ives, 25, was on a camping holiday when she was shot on Friday night by a hunter who allegedly mistook her for a deer or possum while spotlighting.
A 25-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with careless use of a firearm.
Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said today spotlighting on public land clearly breached firearms laws and Ms Ives' death was needless.
"There is a reason hunting at night is prohibited and that's because it's dangerous," she said.
Ms Wilkinson said only 24 hours after Ms Ives was shot, a Department of Conservation (DOC) staff member was camping at Butchers Flat in the Marlborough Sounds when a vehicle drove by firing off rounds. "It is only by pure luck a second family isn't grieving today."
She said Wairarapa DOC staff had also received complaints of spotlighting within 50m of Totara Flats hut.
"The hut was full of trampers who were quite rightly fearful of the shots being fired very close to them. One stray round is all it takes for someone to be killed or injured."
Both incidents have been reported to police, and Ms Wilkinson said people who experienced similar situations should report them to either DOC or police.
Apart from leading to tragic results, irresponsible actions by "cowboys" was tarnishing the reputation of responsible hunters, Ms Wilkinson said.
"DOC takes a no tolerance approach to night hunting and I would encourage legitimate hunters and the public to do the same."
Ms Wilkinson said the Arms Act put clear responsibility on hunters to stay away from public places such as huts and camping grounds, and to avoid endangering, frightening or annoying other people.
