The inaugural Feral Goat Hunting Competition planned by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The New Zealand Government announced the re-emergence of COVID-19 in the community on 17 August. The competition was to culminate with a prizegiving event in Te Kuiti DOC’s Taupiri St workshop on 4 September.
With hunting not permitted in New Zealand at COVID-19 Alert Level 4, the competition could not proceed, said Kina Campbell, DOC’s Maniapoto District biodiversity supervisor.
“We appreciate this news will disappoint a lot of people planning to enter, but COVID-19 has given us no choice,” she said.
“Heading into the bush to hunt is not allowed when the Government’s very clear direction is for people to stay home and stay safe.”
Any rescheduling of the competition will be announced in due course once the details are finalised.