Mr McIntyre is a game-bird shooter, angler and seventh-generation farmer at Waikoikoi with a proud track record of wetland development on the family-run Point Farm.
He was elected chairman by fellow Otago Fish & Game councillors at their first meeting last week to mark the start of a new three-year council term.
This is Mr McIntyre’s fourth term on the Otago Fish & Game Council.
Mr McIntyre runs the farm with his wife Lesley, their daughter Kirsten is the stock manager, and their son Adam runs a contracting business.
"I think everybody knocks Fish & Game because we are a bunch of middle-aged gentlemen out there in our retirement zone. Well, I’m not retired," Mr McIntyre said.
"I’ve got a mortgage. I’ve got a farm. I’ve got a grandkid. I’m here doing it.
"If anybody wants to ask me about farming practices and how we do it, I know the answer.
"I also know how to create wetlands, and how to retain water on the farm, and I’m learning about the political side of Fish & Game, and how to be a councillor and a chair.
"I probably won’t get that perfectly right, but I am going to try my hardest to do it."
However, no election was required in the Otago region this year after only eight candidates stood unopposed for nine places.
The Otago Fish & Game Council includes two new faces, John Preedy, from Roxburgh, and John Cruden, from Mosgiel, for the new term.
Mike Barker, Colin Weatherall, Vicky May, John Highton and Blair Trevathan were reappointed. Mr Trevathan was named as vice-chairman.
Mr McIntyre succeeds Mr Weatherall as chairman, who did not put his name forward for the top position this term.
Mr McIntyre said he had found serving as a Fish & Game councillor was an "amazing" opportunity.
"You give a lot of your time, you don’t get paid, you spend a lot of hours in a meeting room. But you get back so much more."
Mr McIntyre said the technology and science he had learned from Fish & Game had helped him to build a network of wetlands across the farm.
Serving with Fish & Game had also added to his own growth, learning through attending meetings and dealing with people.
The extensive wetlands he had created at Point Farm provided a habitat for waterfowl and his favourite annual pastime, duck-hunting, for which family and friends gathered from far and wide.
Mr McIntyre said improving access to trout fishing and game bird hunting was a primary goal of the Otago Fish & Game council.
"We are here to create habitat and access for our sport for the next generation, which in my terms is my 2-year-old grandson."
Point Farm grazes R1 and R2 cattle through intensive winter grazing, grows oats for Harraways, and finishes lambs, which are sold to Alliance. — APL
