The Government appears to have listened to farmer concerns about soaring goose numbers and is considering allowing landowners to shoot the birds on their own land without permission from Fish and Game offices and without a hunting licence.
Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson told the South Island High Country Committee of Federated Farmers annual conference at Mt Cook yesterday that while no decision had been made, it made sense for landowners to control the pest on their own land.
They would be allowed to use any legal firearm but would not be allowed to poison geese.
Farmers say goose numbers have reached pest proportions and the birds pollute waterways and pasture.
They claim a single goose can consume as much grass as several sheep.
The aviation industry was also concerned about goose numbers and the risk posed to aircraft.
Fish and Game New Zealand manages the goose population, but farmers say it has allowed the population to exceed agreed levels, in what has become a contentious issue between the two groups.
Mrs Wilkinson said there was little agreement between Fish and Game and farmers: Fish and Game want to manage a hunting resource and farmers to eradicate what they see as a pest.
Under Mrs Wilkinson's proposal, Fish and Game would retain responsibility for controlling geese on public land, and landowners would not be allowed to offer hunting of geese for reward.
Another option was to declare the bird a pest and absolve Fish and Game of any responsibility, but she said that would mean the added costs to ratepayers of preparing and enforcing regional pest management plans.
Mrs Wilkinson said no decision had been made and she was still consulting interested parties before putting a proposal to Cabinet.
Any change would only require amending existing regulations.
Mrs Wilkinson said a review of the Wildlife Act had resulted in plubbers being declared a pest, meaning they can be shot without a licence once the Act is amended.