The season is enjoyed by more than 40,000 hunters but some have expressed concern that the new workplace safety laws could affect access to their normal hunting spots.
Farmers and landowners have also questioned if they have to rethink the access they have previously been happy to grant to their properties for recreational users.
Fish & Game New Zealand is reassuring both famers and hunters that the new laws will not affect recreational use.
“Fish & Game and Federated Farmers worked closely together to make sure that recreational access to farms wasn’t affected by the law changes,” Fish & Game national communications manager, Don Rood, said.
“Both organisations recognise the value of such access and happily, the parliamentary select committee considering the draft legislation agreed.
“The result is that Parliament has safeguarded access for anglers, hunters and trampers.
“The decision by MPs to protect recreation is welcome as it preserves a long and treasured tradition of access to the outdoors through farms and forests.
"This access has long helped foster positive links between urban and rural residents.”
Rood said the close co-operation with Federated Farmers on the issue has dispelled a lot of the rumour and speculation that had built-up over the new laws.
“The new Health and Safety at Work Act clarifies that a farmer’s responsibility for any risk on their farmland does not extend to recreational users, except when work is being carried out in that particular part of the farm at the time.
“This defuses fears that recreational users would have to get detailed safety briefings from farmers and fill in paperwork every time they wanted to go on to a farm,” he said.
Fish & Game is happy to provide help to hunters and farmers wanting clarification about the new law.
However, the new law doesn’t give game bird hunters the right to roam at will over farms without permission.
“Our licence holders should still exercise common courtesy and talk to farmers and get permission to cross their land or hunt on a farm’s dams and wetlands.
“And while you are talking to them, it makes sense to ask about any risks at the same time,” Rood said.
“The law takes a dim view of illegal hunting and Fish & Game supports tough action against any poacher.”
