Author Archives: Andi Cockroft

OUR MINISTER OF CONSERVATION IS A WORRY, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

Guest Post by Carol Sawyer OUR MINISTER OF CONSERVATION IS A WORRY, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE – NO WONDER THE EEL LOOKS TERRIFIED A Minister of Conservation should know at least something about the creatures she is killing, (like … Continue reading

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CORANZ Publishes Election Charter 2020

Prior to each General Election, we produce a Charter of aspirations and ask parties to respond to a few questions our Members are interested in. These responses are subsequently analysed and published on our website giving our Members an understanding … Continue reading

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N.Z. FEDERATION 0F RIFLE, ROD & GUN SPORTSMEN News Release 1 August, 1969

From the Past The late John B Henderson was a strong supporter of the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations. As national president of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association in the late 1960s and early 1970s and also in the 1980s, … Continue reading

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The RMA is Bad, But Enforcement is Far, Far Worse

Opinion by Andi Cockroft Whilst many would agree that the RMA has grown and evolved over many iterations into the hopeless article it is now, what compounds the problem is the ramshackle enforcement by agencies tasked with enforcing it. Whether … Continue reading

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Our little piece of paradise was ruined forever

AN OPEN LETTER TO AMANDA GILLIES by Jeff Patchett Introduction: On yesterday’s ‘AM Show’, the usual garbage about people opposed to 1080 was spouted by Duncan Garner and Mark Richardson. (Go to ‘The AM Show Catch-Up’, 9 March 2020 – … Continue reading

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Mother Nature and Bush Justice in Action Perhaps

Or beware your hatred of possum …..or Karma can be very quick. Guest Post by Andi Cockroft Every now and again, events conspire to create lasting memories – this one stands out in my mind as particularly black humour and … Continue reading

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Possums are Not Predators of Birds

by Andi Cockroft, CORANZ chairman Relative to the Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust’s contention that possums are not predators of birds, it’s worth noting the research which the trust’s spokesman Laurie Collins quoted. Earlier this year I conducted a series of … Continue reading

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Who Wants Ten Million People in NZ?

by Andi Cockroft, Chairman Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ Recently a Fairfax columnist Lana Hart advocated New Zealand could embrace a population of 10 million. This archaic thinking is still upheld by a few people and politicians. Even … Continue reading

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The Covid19 Conundrum and Destructive Poison Link

Opinion by Andi Cockroft Watching our Prime Minister at her regular Covid-19 press conferences, it was intriguing to see her draw a distinction between “elimination” and “eradication”.  Puzzled – because to me they have the same meaning – I went … Continue reading

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Who Cares if Government Amends RMA to Exclude Consultation?

A very personal opinion by Andi Cockroft Environment Minister David Parker wants to fast track important project consents by excluding public input. If the Government goes ahead with this threat to remove public consultation from the RMA process surrounding major … Continue reading

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On the Demise of Experts and Truth

An Opinion by Andi Cockroft We cannot say we were never warned. It is now at the stage where the very mention of the term “Expert” immediately raises mistrust in my mind’s eye. And seeing so many (especially the young) … Continue reading

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Anglers to Challenge Commercial River Rafting on Southern Rivers

Dated: 24 March 2020 This is NZ Southern Rivers continued request for funding through the Give a Little Platform to take to Judicial Review the Gore District Council’s(GDC) decision to grant a resource consent in November 2019 for a commercial … Continue reading

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NZ Outdoors Party

CORANZ is firmly apolitical in its dealings with the various parties. We do monitor their press releases however, and one in particular from the Outdoors Party caught our attention. We pass no comment on this, but reflect in precis form … Continue reading

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Get Off the Grass!

Opinion:- We take it for granted, for it is all around us. Whether it be parkland, football field, reserve or more likely pasture, grass is simply everywhere in our urban or in proximity to town landscapes. Yet other than a … Continue reading

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Do Possums Like Eggs – la Fin.

This is the fourth and final in a series observing behaviour of the Australian Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) when exposed to hen’s eggs. As previously stated, this is a series of simple high-school type experiments conducted to determine if the … Continue reading

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Do Possums Like Eggs – Part Trois

This is the third in a series observing behaviour of the Australian Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) when exposed to hens’ eggs. A simple high-school type experiment is conducted to determine if the possum naturally consumes eggs. Although a hens egg … Continue reading

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Do Possums Like Eggs – Part Deux

Following on from my previous post https://coranz.org.nz/do-possums-like-eggs/, where I detail my first attempt at observing possums and their affinity or not to taking eggs. In part one, although food offerings were gratefully accepted, the hens egg I left for their … Continue reading

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Do Possums Like Eggs?

Doesn’t look like it – at least not at first sight. Out of idle curiosity, I did an experiment in my back yard where possums are frequent if slightly unwelcome visitors. Always getting into mischief by tearing into rubbish bags … Continue reading

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A Sour Taste

Guest Post by Rex N. Gibson Peter Trolove is the current President of the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers Inc. He commutes between his home at the North Rakaia huts and a batch at Okarito. Hunting and fishing are passions … Continue reading

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Eco Cartoon

Appropriate under Commentary

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