April National Board Reports

Gone hunting! See you next month in May.

Personal Update

Over the past month I have been busy with all aspects of my life, private, professional and NZDA related. I finally got our house in Kapiti sold, packed and moved to Whangarei, we're a family again under the same roof, at the same location in NZ.

I hope everyone enjoyed my article in the H&W Magazine regarding the Taupo Prize Shoot, it is seriously worth the trip. I will be there again this year for sure.

Wilkinson Postal Shoot

With the Conference fast approaching I hope all Branches have the Wilkinson Shoot locked in their range calendars. If you haven't there is still time. All the details of the competition are available on the National website. Just click on the "what we do" drop down box, and then on "target shooting". There's a link in there to the Shooting rulebook, pages 91 - 100. I urge you all to please give this a go.

While we're on the subject of the Wilkinson Postal Shoot, we are planning on modernising the target with a new photograph competition, soon to be launched. Watch this space.

Competitive Shooting Newsletter

Behind the scenes we're working towards a new bi-annual Competitive Shooting Newsletter. The success of this will strongly rely on match directors and competitors to supply photos, match previews and match reports. If our greater membership doesn't know about these events, how can they participate? We can't promote a secret!

As always, please feel free to drop me an email or text if you have any questions or ideas regarding Competitive Shooting in the NZDA. I will ring back when I have a spare minute for a chat.

That's all I have for the time being, so as always;

Keep your powder dry and Hot Barrels everyone!

Standing down at conference

For the 2025/26 year I will not be seeking re-election as the North Island Representative.

I was honoured to be elected to the NZDA National Board at the 2022 Conference in Hamilton and I wish to thank you all for the trust and support that you’ve shown me over the last 3 years. Stepping into this role I freely admit that I had a lot to learn at the time, but I picked things up quickly and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the NZDA.

The decision to step down is not one that I have taken lightly. I have enjoyed my time on the Board and greatly value the relationships that I’ve built. However, I feel that I’ve come to a point where I can’t make much of a difference so think it’s time to make way for some someone with fresh enthusiasm.

Throughout my life I’ve always been someone who’s strived to work efficiently and get things done - but as I’ve come to learn, progress in Governance often takes time. Board work is no exception and as someone who is wired to move quickly, it can be frustrating.

As an organisation we’ve come a long way in the last few years, but I think it’s important to acknowledge that we still face some very big hurdles. We’re constrained by a limited budget, an apathetic hunting public, and sadly, a legacy way of thinking that’s still holding us back. It will require some hard conversations, and as much as it pains me to say it, I simply don’t believe we’re mature enough to have those just yet.

That being said, I believe with strong leadership we can continue to evolve. I wish the incoming North Island Representative all the very best and will happily provide any support you may need.

Thank you to all those individuals and branches that I’ve had the pleasure of being involved with over the last 3 years - I remain committed to the BOP Branch so hope to continue getting to know you all. Some of you may have noted that I’m not the greatest with striking up new conversations (I’m working on it), but I’m always keen for a chat, so please feel free come and have a yarn if you see me floating around Conference or out in the field.

Branch Constitutions

Your Branch Secretaries should have started working on your new Constitution by now. Ours has been drafted and sent to Gwyn for approval of the wording , as we are also a Charity, and it is listed on the Agenda for our Committee meeting on Thursday for approval and sign off, prior to next month's AGM. 

Firearms Safety

A reminder  to ensure  compliance with the respective "carriage of firearms" laws, as the Roar ends and we go into duck shooting season. Police will be monitoring vehicles and drivers over this busy period.

Stewart Island Predator Control Plan

Thank you to all  those that submitted on the proposal to aerially spread 1080 on Stewart Island. This is an on-going battle with the proposers, which unfortunately  moves at their speed and quality of responses to questions.

I note that in the lower half of the South Island, the pre-bait application of bait  has just been applied, prior to the aerial drop of 1080 to 65,000ha below the Cascade River; the Catlins were poisoned in March; 2,200ha at McRaes Flat has also just had a meat based sausage poison trial, targeting cats and there will be a similar trial around the Borland Saddle in May / June.

DOC Hunting Permits

Good news to see that the DoC Hunting permits are moving to Annual Permits. Please remember that a current, valid permit is required for the conservation land that you are actually hunting on.

Postal Shoots

Shooting competitions are occurring around the Branches, please remember to include the Wilkinson Postal Shoot in your event schedule.

Conference

Emails notifying of this year's Conference in Invercargill have been sent out advising of registration details. Please ensure that your Branch reports etc are submitted on time and seriously consider attending the Conference in July, hosted by the Southland Branch,  themed "Wapiti & Whitetail ".

Best wishes to those successful with Tahr ballot blocks.

Our Board

To learn more about the NZDA Board, follow the link here.

NZDA National Board, photographed at the 76th Conference and AGM in July 2024.