HOSI legislation passes, hunters finally at the centre of conservation

ACT Conservation spokesperson and keen hunter Cameron Luxton has welcomed the passing of the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill, saying it marks a long-overdue shift in how New Zealand approaches hunting and conservation.

"Hunters spend enough time in the hills to know that the people out there every weekend, the deerstalkers, the tahr hunters, the duck shooters, are doing real conservation work. This HOSI legislation finally recognises that," says Mr Luxton.

Mr Luxton submitted an alternative opinion at select committee, pushing for changes to ensure the HOSI legislation delivered for the hunting community.

"I wasn't going to let this legislation pass without making sure it worked for the people it's meant to serve. I pushed hard at select committee, and I want to acknowledge Minister James Meager for engaging constructively with the concerns I raised.

"I've had good conversations with the Minister. He's assured me the concerns I raised won't be a problem in practice. But Act will be watching closely. This matters too much to too many New Zealanders to let it slide.

"For too long, hunters have been treated as an afterthought in conservation policy. This HOSI legislation puts game animal management on a proper statutory footing and gives hunters a genuine voice in how it's done.

"Hunters know healthy game populations and healthy environments go hand in hand. When you work with hunters instead of ignoring them, you get better conservation outcomes. That's exactly what this HOSI legislation begins to deliver."