The combination of the recent move to the Red traffic light Covid-19 restrictions, heightened fire risk and changes to how farmers approach pest control have meant the annual Alexandra Lions Club fundraiser is not viable to run, organisers say.
The event attracts between 190 to 220 hunters from throughout the South Island and creates a sizeable dent in the region’s pest population — almost 12,000 rabbits were shot last year.
It brings in about $30,000, funds which the Lions club uses to support community groups and initiatives.
Club secretary and Easter Bunny Hunt organiser Guy Harris said the decision to cancel had been unanimous.
The club had intended to run it as a vaccine pass event in keeping with Covid-19 traffic light requirements. However, keeping to the 100-person limit brought on by the shift to Red would have been difficult.
Once people left to their allocated properties, organisers would have struggled to ensure the limit was adhered to, Mr Harris said.
The predicted fire risk at Easter was also heightened due to "phenomenal growth".
"The fire risk that’s predicted for around Easter, we don’t want vehicles with hot exhausts setting off the grass we had two years ago."
Many landowners spoken to by the club had also indicated they were starting poisoning programmes to tackle the pests and the hunt would not have access to those properties.
"It wasn’t really viable to run," Mr Harris said.
The cancellation was a blow for the Lions Club as it followed news this year’s Goldfields Cavalcade would not be going ahead.
The two events amounted to 95% of the club’s annual fundraising.
"[The Easter Bunny Hunt] is one of our biggest earners and it’s the community that are the ones going to lose out.
"It feels bloody awful."
