‘Lives threatened’

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 7

‘Lives threatened’

“This case brought extreme pressure on board members, three of whom received threats to their lives from a person unknown. It also resulted in the resignation of Mr E. J. T. Shand, a foundation board member.”

Threats by protesters to dmage valuable board equipment during goat-cul-ling operations in the Arapawa Island Scenic .Reserve resulted in the board seeking assistance from the Police Department which sent two officers to watch over the cullers’ base camp for a short period, Mr Mitchell said.

This incident arose from the board’s decision in April, 1978, to ask the Forest Service to draw up a wild animal control programme for the reserve. Before taking any action it held a public meeting to

hear submissions from any interested organisations or individuals. Mr Mitchell said the meeting took place in May, 1978. The wild animal control programme was discussed and adopted by the board with amendments which were agreed to by all present. “The programme, as approved, allowed for the immediate culling of the northern and southern extremities of the reserve and a delay in culling the central area until January, 1979, so as to allow the Arapawa Wildlife Trust to remove any further goats that it wished. The trust’s representatives were emphatic that if they had not achieved their aims by January, 1979, then they would not make any further requests on the board.”

He said culling proceeded satisfactorily on

the northern and southern areas. The trust captured 114 goats during November, 1978. In January the board received a proposal from the head office of the Department of Lands and Survey that the board consider handing over future wild animal control of the reserve to the trust, if the board considered numbers were now low enough.

The board decided to proceed with the approved programme and culling began on February 8.

"This action resulted in the presence of a small group of protesters for a period of about one week (a maximum of 14 were seen at any one time) who endeavoured to drive the goats away from the cullers,” Mr Mitchell said. Two of the protesters made threats which resulted in police assistance being sought.