Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper amends the Game Animal Council Bill. To make it clear that where the Department of Conservation needs to cull, kill or otherwise control game animal populations on public conservation land to implement its statutory functions under conservation legislation, the killing of animals in herds of special interest is not an offence under this Bill. The Department has statutory functions, such as to preserve and protect natural resources under the Conservation Act 1987, National Parks Act 1980, Reserves Act 1977 and Wildlife Act 1953 and killing of game animals may be necessary to do this.