Re: the letter from Phil McKernon (27 May), swan shoot in the harbour on 22 May. McKernon's letter was abusive and insulting, and like his appearance on the TV1 news item of 23 May, he lies in a deliberate attempt to misinform the public about this event with his anti-hunting propaganda.

The shoot is conducted in accordance with local and regional council bylaws, and is specially permitted and overseen by Fish & Game. DOC are also fully aware of it, with DOC staff sometimes attending.
Humane
The intention is that all birds are to be killed as quickly and humanely as possible, but in accordance with the strict safety and procedural protocols that must be followed. Shot birds are then recovered and returned to a collection point where they are tallied and shared out amongst the participants.
This shoot is an important part of the management of the large gamebirds in the Tauranga Harbour, and it has been a one-day event in the short annual gamebird season for many years. However, only in recent years a small number of vocal, self-styled anti-hunting activists have complained to try to end this annual organised hunt. But despite the fact that the shoot is totally legal, Mr McKernon and his fellow agitators have tried to stop, obstruct, or sabotage the shoot, and last Sunday went so far as getting TV1 news cameras to film the event after trespassing over private land under false pretences – several kilometres from the mainland – and miles from where these activists actually live. (Not anywhere near their own properties as they claimed).
Twisted individual
On the TV News report McKernon appeared to be a bitter & twisted individual who could not tolerate or understand how the participants could enjoy the day out, or the fact that they were happy about harvesting prime game-meat for their families, in much the same way that fishermen enjoy the thrill of landing a huge catch.
In short, there is no problem with the organised swan shoot, the problem is only in Mr McKernon's mind, and his ‘perception' that the shoot is wrong is what needs to change.
I have found that with the most intolerant, hard-line anti-hunting activists you don't have to look far to find they have failings, short-comings or issues of their own, and this often can be a reason why they so vehemently condemn and chastise ‘hunters' as a way of building up their own fragile egos or low self-esteem amongst their contemporaries. By labelling the licensed gamebird hunters as 'the shooting Neanderthals”, McKernon speaks volumes about his character and ignorance. Unlike in his native England, hunting in NZ is not the preserve of the social elite or the landed gentry, but of all persons who are fit to hold a firearms licence. Amongst the hunting fraternity, and those at the shoot, are doctors, lawyers, electricians, mechanics, farmers, surgeons, orchardists, engineers, plumbers, salesmen, etc., Basically, people from all walks of life.
Not all things in life are beautiful, and death is inevitable for all. Hunting may not be everyone's ‘cup of tea', and that's fine – that's their choice. But for many in these tough economic times it is an increasingly popular and traditional method for many to put food on the table for their families.
Hunt saboteurs
Unfortunately now in the UK legitimate organised hunts are routinely interrupted by anarchistic, violent, unruly activists known as ‘hunt saboteurs', who will trespass on private land and physically and verbally assault hunters until police or security intervene. As an immigrant to NZ, is this the sort of thing Mr McKernon has in mind for us next? I fear so.
I fully support and applaud the efforts and work of the volunteers involved in organising and running this special shoot – at their own expense – saving the regional ratepayers from footing the bill for an expensive and wasteful professional culling operation.
Instead of writing in to local authorities to complain about this event, I would encourage others to write in supporting it!
Dean Maisey, Tauranga.