Further to the Rotoiti poaching responses, to continue the same controversial theme the following were received yesterday to comment on the story on the Waimarino from Kenny Drummond…
(If you missed it click on 11 & 12 September reports for it all to make sense…)
From an ‘anon’ regular Tongariro disciple West Island inmate:
In answer to your question:
Call the cops and then follow up that they have done something about it
People obeying the law have become 2nd class citizens in New Zealand
Feel for Ken though as he would be well known in the area and if he dobbed them in he probably would have become a target for retribution.
Doc presence on a daily basis on known spawning and poaching rivers is a no brainer and could actually add some credibility to their management of this wonderful resource they have been charged to look after.
From Clark Reid: Great read, but to attribute “No judgement” to criminal activity is naive at best, anarchist at worst! Girls on white horses and their own land? Yeah cool, but don;t forget the local Iwi receive 50% of the licence money generated in your region. I know where Ken is coming from, and good on him, if I was still commercially guiding in the area I wouldn’t be doing anything to antogonize these people either, it’s inevitable you will meet on the river at some point and we have seen how well that went for some Taupo guides on the Waitahanui. Two points. Our fisheries need protection and custodianship and we must punish anyone who interferes with that! 2) Most of the vigor of posts the first time round was in response to their arrogance and pompousness, not their point.
If you are in doubt of Mr Tawhas education please listen to his interview and you will understand this man is not gifted. He has struggled through life in and out of jail and finds himself unemployed and probably unemployable.
However he has eight Tamiriki to feed and has a responsibility to feed the family. His wife needs hospital care Do we as anglers really think he has the same care for a few fish we as anglers will happily take with a fishing rod and licence.
This man is one of the unfortunate like me he is Tangata Whenua he is a New Zealander.
Fish and Game clearly make the point this is the largest poaching bust in a decade and it is clear the evidence presented to the court outlined the poverty and feeling of inequity felt by Mr Tawha. There is evidence clearly there to link the two, to say there is no evidence in such a high profile case would be wrongful.
The question we need to ask is did F&G just want a case to make a example, was this a case they could make a high profile out off. Like a speeding ticket did F&G just take out a easy infringement instead of applying resource to larger poaching operations. I am thinking the large scale nets on the shores of Lake Rotoeheu would be a better prosecution.Does F&G have the investigation skills to undertake a operation on large scale poaching if they thought commercial poaching was a important issue they would have the investigation staff.
This was a opportunity for F&G to be seen and was it really a significant enough case for anglers to think large scale poaching rings have been infiltrated. F&G present no evidence to suggest this case will put a end to poaching
. A full time fishing guide with a earning potential of $750 to $850 a day could be bringing in $4250 a week / $220000 a year. Over a 35 year career that is revenue exceeding $8 million.
Wouldn’t it be nice to think someone whom has earned such a significant income from a resource available because of licence sales reach out and support those less fortunate – the Tamariki of this family and help put a meal on their table..
Do we really think sending these two poachers to jail for a year will provide a better fishing experience for licence holders. They are just two idiots going through life without thinking of consequences to their actions. It is these previous actions that see them with no means to financially support their families
Sure there are rumours of poaching on a commercial scale happening in different parts of New Zealand but there was no evidence to suggest that was happening in this situation.
If you haven’t seen the interview yet please watch it. This character is not the smartest of men there is nothing to suggest he has the ability selling these fish for financial gain.
This mans crime was feeding his family and contempt of our legal system.
Ross my question for you and your readers do we as anglers want these fathers taken away from their families for such a long period for such a petty mindless stupid act / crime.
The only people effected are a few anglers who may not catch these few fish. Licence sales allow for F&G to put enough fish into the lakes to catch.
Surely there is a better sentence available for taking a few trout??
Recent Prosecution comparisons. Of which all seem reasonable given the offence
11 August 2016
Ngapuhi leader finded $24000, 3 months community service, Curfew 7pm to 7am for shooting 5 Kereru. Seems a responsible sound sentence given the crime
5 May 2016
Danish tourist fined $10000 for mistakingly shooting a blue duck. Fairly lucky not to have been fined more. A act of ignorance.
I rather a career criminal be taking a few trout to feed his family rather than steeling from my home to feed his family.
And there is more:
I honestly believe F&G and especially the court have gone a bit far in the sentencing, no doubt requested by F&G.
Given that Lake Rotoiti is a put and take fishery this poaching incident does no more damage to the fishery than a boat with a couple of guys catching their limits for the day. This was a extreme case of poaching, there is nothing for anglers to fear.
As a society we must sentence people fairly for the crime they commit. These 2 Maori were in a desperate place none of us would wish to be in. A year in jail is not an appropriate sentence.
The Maori poaching Kereru who got a $24000 fine community service and a curfew was a brilliant sentence fitting the offence.
Those who commercially poach Paua to send off shore are extreme cases that deserve harsh sentencing
If this was a case of poaching for financial gain one would hope the sentence was more severe. Certainly in the Taupo region or the back country of New Zealand there would have been irreversible damage to a wild fishery.
There was no organised crime syndicate, just two New Zealanders desperate to feed their Tamariki because of their consequences of many poor decisions through life.
I feel for these blokes and hope as a trout fishermen i am not such a elitist I cannot have compassion for people in their position. I do feel embarrassed that my sport feels it is so high and might it does not help those in need. If F&G and DOC were honestly concerned about the effects of poaching they would have a dedicated investigation team with the proper back ground – which they do not.
For many it is not easy to get out of their poverty cycle. Buying this man a fishing rod and F&G giving him a fishing licence well we all know the old saying
I suspect there is some confusion above – The two poachers who were convicted had over 60 trout. The 3 guys just nabbed had 17 trout – in the photo. But that’s OK – we get the message.
Another poaching incident?
Lastly another regular inmate asked me what I thought? I am Switzerland neutral on this issue and prefer not to comment either way.