Interview: Callum Sheridan, NZDA National President

Hunting and Wildlife Magazine - Issue 226 - Spring 2024

Can you tell us about your first experience with firearms and how it shaped your views on recreational hunting? 

My first experience with firearms was quite grassroots. A friend of a friend introduced me to a bit of North Island bush hunting, which was probably, that day, more about the adventure than anything else. A couple of 20 year olds might have seen one deer or one deer seen and missed. 

What's your favourite calibre? .308 Win 

What motivated you to take on the NZDA President role? 

I've been around the NZDA board and committees etc, for quite a while now, and it just seemed like a natural progression. It felt like the right time for me; after four years on the board currently, two as a North Island Rep and two as Vice President. The next step for me was the President, and to commit to three to four or five years, including the Immediate Past President's role, and see where it takes me.  

What do you see as your main responsibilities in this position, and how are you planning to balance them with your regular life as well? 

The main responsibilities would be to give the Board the direction and freedom to support the branches, reps, or board members in doing their own little projects and working with  Ministers, the Department of Conservation, and various stakeholders in the hunting sector. As it stands now, we’re already a collaborative sector, but I think we can do a lot better. 

What's your long-term vision for the NZDA, and how do you think you'll lead the team to achieve it? 

The long-term vision is for significant membership growth and for hunters and firearms owners to be recognised as normal, law-abiding citizens and responsible members of society. Without seeming elitist, I think generally that firearms’ owners are probably more responsible members of society than the average Joe. A firearms’ owner has to jump through hoops to get a firearms licence, and I think NZDA members do a whole other thing, where they even get vetted by the branch and the association to become members. So, really, they should be seen as outstanding members of society. 

How do you think the NZDA can promote and support hunting and shooting sports in New Zealand? 

We're a lobby group, right? So, at a high level, the board, and I guess our upper management within the NZDA, need to lobby for the wider group of hunters in New Zealand. Not just our members, but hunters. Hopefully, those hunters will see the light and join. 

How do we engage with the hunting community, both our members and the wider hunting community, to ensure that we represent their needs and concerns? 

I think that starts at the grass-roots level, with branches putting their best foot forward in their local communities and, nationally, supporting them in it through branch development. And with branches working closely together and collaboratively with their neighbouring branches to benefit their local communities. At the higher level, I think using a forward-facing presence across social media platforms will help and if you're being interviewed in the general media, create a positive message around the benefits of hunting and firearms ownership.  

Are there any specific projects you've been thinking of rolling out with branches at the initial level? 

I would like to run a branch-development workshop, which is underway, but it's more of an ideas sort of thing, for projects etc. A recent project that I can go back to was the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition that started last year.  If we can grow on that and have more projects like that across the sector, branches can buy into it. The idea was to create opportunities for the branches, our members, and hunters nationwide to get into it and that it would feed into other stuff.  

If hunters can show that we can manage populations of goats, that's going to feed into deer and other animals. Of course, some areas might not allow for it, but generally, if we can show that if we've got access and the right information to get into these areas, and do the right thing, we're going to have an impact. And it’s free to the taxpayer which is always a good thing. So that sort of thing is what I'll be looking to achieve. 

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing hunters today, and how do you plan to address them as President? 

Access is a big one. The National Access Committee was just recently formed. There are a huge number of things they could focus on, but they're going to start small and build from there, and we're going to let them. As President, by myself, I can't do too much apart from support branches and individuals in backing their projects. So, if they've got a project and they want to get it across the line, helping from an advocacy point of view,  with that access-point advice. This might be advice on how they interact with their local regional councils or local DOC offices and putting them in contact with the right people, whether it be internally within the association. to then be passed onto the local DOC office or for them to contact that DOC office directly. 

How does the NZDA work with policymakers to advocate for hunters' interests, and are there any legislative changes that you'd like to see us push more heavily to those policymakers? 

On the day of this interview, I'm here in here in Wellington to meet with the Minister of Conservation, along with our CEO and Immediate Past President. This is an initial meeting with the Minister, and hopefully, we can build from there. Regarding policy, there's a lot across the board in terms of game animals and firearms. With policies, you've got to create them and in doing so, you've got to create things like Herds of Special Interest (HOSI). You've got to look at things like the National Parks Act and change that to fairly create a HOSI, or at least make it feasible. And with regards to firearms, obviously, there's a firearms review going on there, so we're likely to see some changes soon. It's just keeping the pressure on the right people at the right times, communicating openly with politicians and those who can help make the decision in the right place. 

Thinking of our own members and the benefits they receive as part of NZDA, are there any that you think we don't do a good enough job of sharing the good word on, or that we're not spreading as widely as we could?  

When anybody asks about benefits, I always mention insurance first, and a large majority of people I speak to who aren't NZDA members don't know about it. I think that's quite a big drawcard. So, getting that well communicated to non-members would be good, as that might be a big incentive to join. 

Are there any benefits you would like to offer members in the future that we're not currently offering? 

I think that we are, for lack of a better word, pretty tapped out in terms of what we're doing for our members. There's a lot on offer. If you download the NZDA membership app, you can pay your membership off twice in a year, once, very easily, twice if you try a little bit, and probably three times if you try really hard to use all the discounts just with your day-to-day living costs.  

When advocating on behalf of hunters, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes in terms of conversations within the sector and relevant stuff outside the sector that still contributes to the progression and work of the NZDA. The work behind the scenes is constant; it's an everyday thing. When our members are going to work, hunting, or doing something else, they can be assured that there's somebody at the National Office, in some way, shape or form, advocating on their behalf. 

Can you tell us about any upcoming events or activities the NZDA is planning for hunters? 

We have the second NZDA/DOC National Wild Goat Hunting Competition. This gives hunters the opportunity to compete for prizes and our branches the opportunity to showcase themselves to their local communities. Last year, more than 10,000 goats were shot, and I hope to see that number beaten this year, so get out and get amongst it. The NZDA will also be part of the Sika Show at Mystery Creek Events Centre,  on 2-3 November, so be sure to come and check out our stand! 

How do these events help to build a stronger hunting community?  

An outward-facing NZDA can only be a good thing. Regular events within the sector strengthen relationships between stakeholders, providing better opportunities for the everyday hunter or shooter with enhanced advocacy and representation. 

How do you address misconceptions about the NZDA, hunters and hunting in the public sphere?  

Firstly, the NZDA has a lot of history, and it's not perfect. However, in recent times, the association has only gone from strength to strength. The goat competition is a perfect example of being able to collaborate with the likes of the Department of Conservation, Federated Farmers, the NZ Firearms Safety Authority and other stakeholders within the sector. This sort of public exposure shows that most hunters have great care for the natural environment and only want the best for it, and that we understand the importance of proper management for the best biodiversity outcomes. A healthy environment creates well-conditioned animals for the table and trophy room. 

What do you find most rewarding about your role as president of the NZDA?  

Being in a position to represent hunters' interests at the highest level and taking the time to converse with everyday hunters and outdoors people, to hear their take on the sector and what they think can be better or worse. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of bringing this feedback into the room when considering the big issues that we face today in the sector. And once considered, seeing the changes made based on these grass-roots and BBQ table conversations. 

How do you personally stay informed about the latest trends and issues in hunting?  

Various magazines and hunting programmes, social media is a big one, along with various relationships I have within the sector. We are at a stage where I can pick up the phone and speak to just about any stakeholder and get positive engagement. 

Finally, what message would you like to share directly with our readers about the future of hunting in New Zealand and your commitment to supporting them?  

The future is bright. If you truly value our game animals, the freedom to hunt on public conservation land, and the freedom to participate in shooting sports, then support the work of the NZDA by joining and having your voice heard. 

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