Game status sought for teal

Otago's Fish and Game Council is pushing for grey teal to be reclassified as a game bird.

Chief executive Niall Watson said a proposal to change the bird's status was originally included in the Government's current review of the wildlife schedules, but it had been removed.

It had been raised directly with the Department of Conservation, Mr Watson said.

Grey teal were classified as absolutely protected birds within New Zealand, as were kiwi.

Mr Watson said if grey teal were granted game bird status, it would provide Fish and Game with an incentive to monitor population levels and determine whether the species could survive a harvest.

"There are quite large numbers around. It [reclassification] would make sense for us to spend time and money monitoring them, which is the favoured approach," he said.

A status change would be followed by at least two seasons of monitoring, and in the meantime grey teal would remain protected.

"Grey teal is a bird on the boundary in terms of status, but it's important to stress they are protected wildlife and shooting them is a serious offence," he said.

Two Ranfurly men were caught shooting grey teal in the Maniototo on May 2 during the opening of duck-shooting season.

They may be prosecuted for the offence, which is punishable under the Wildlife Act by a maximum sentence of six months in prison or a $100,000 fine and $5000 for each bird.