Two Eastern Bay of Plenty men found guilty of poaching up to 60 spawning trout from an isolated stream near Lake Rotoiti were a no show in court this week.
Thomas Tawha, 41, of Kawerau and David Pake Leef, 42, of Te Teko, were due to be sentenced in Rotorua District Court yesterday after being convicted in what has been described as one of the worst poaching cases in a decade.
Up to 60 spawning trout were poached from isolated streams near Lake Rotoiti.
Tawha was convicted of five poaching charges and Leef was convicted on three.
The charges included disturbing the spawning ground of rainbow trout, possession of a net suitable for sport fishing while in the vicinity of the tributary and taking rainbow trout from the stream.
In July 2014, the pair were caught by Eastern Fish & Game staff and police 'pillaging” trout from a stream leading into Lake Rotoiti - an important trout spawning ground which is closed year round.
Penalties for poaching fish during winter spawning season range from a maximum of two years' jail or fines of up to $100,000.
More than half of the freshly-killed trout were mature spawning females, with wild fish making up the majority of the haul. It is one of the worst cases of poaching recorded in the area for the best part of a decade.
The pair were remanded on bail on November 20, 2014, and were due to be sentenced yesterday.
Warrants have since been issued for their arrest.
9 comments
Contempt...
Posted on 13-01-2015 15:27 | By morepork
...for the Justice System is not a valid Race card. If you believe on Ethnic grounds you are above the Law, then you are not helping to advance the cause of your Ethnicity. This is a crime against EVERYBODY and it should be seen as such and treated as such. Lock 'em up AND fine them the maximum. (Obviously, if they are locked up they can't pay the fine so it has to be paid after they get out, and if they default, put 'em back inside...) They need a few years to reflect on what they did and change their attitude, hopefully, grow up a bit.
Oh so brave!
Posted on 13-01-2015 15:39 | By penguin
Oh, the admiration for these two low-lives who haven't got the balls to turn up in court and face the sentence for their crime. Just as there has to be admiration for their pitiful 'rape' of the fish stocks. Yeah right...
Wisechief
Posted on 13-01-2015 16:21 | By Wise Chief
Though its wrong to take Trout when spawning we must consider if these men have families & are on a benefit or none & were doing what normal fathers do-regardless of man made laws to stop them, feed their families. As one who has gone without food when on a meager benefit to feed my children I experienced the extreme pressures such a situation can place upon a father. Those who have enough food will naturally rail in condemnation at such happenings, but I tell you & all Police-Winz-Gov included, that when a child is whimpering because they are hungry and one has little to give them, one does not have any respect for man made laws which effectively created the situation in the first place.Bet most would seek to pay to punish & jail these people at cost of $120K per annum first rather than invest for better outcom
@Wise Chief
Posted on 13-01-2015 17:49 | By penguin
A bit of a ‘lecture' to try and take attention away from the crime, eh? I, too, have experienced being on the benefit but I never stooped to stealing or plundering. A crime is a crime no matter the motivation. Think again oh wise one!
Just remember
Posted on 13-01-2015 21:24 | By The Caveman
who put the trout in the lakes - NOT the Ethnic two that were poaching them. If the trout were not introduced into the lakes by the European migrants, they would not be able to poach them for feeding their family. How about catching a few eels instead?
OK Wise Chief but.....
Posted on 13-01-2015 22:23 | By peterin102
If in fact these guys were legitimately planning to take these trout to feed their starving kids, that's a hell of a feed for a lot of kids don't you think? Do you really think this was their intention.....honestly? I'm all for a 'glass half full' perspective on things but.............
.
Posted on 14-01-2015 10:45 | By maccachic
must be a big hungry family that needs 30 trout to feed it, how about they grow some vegetables?
Wisechief
Posted on 14-01-2015 13:53 | By Wise Chief
Interesting response Morepork & Penguin-Co who are likely ex or current POLICE STATE Soldiers who worked long & hard to establish UK/USA/German, Royals,Lords, Ladies owned SERCO Private Prison for Maori's which are run by Winston Churchill's grandson & thus support imprisonment at a cost of $120K plus per year per man to keep them there. All for a few fish.Obviously never gave a moments thought towards what may have been unusual circumstance of having a lot of visitors who were also on a benefit with hungry kids to feed. One does not if they are wise approach Winz these days since Tully episode asking for help with food or other emergency costs because they surely will be humiliated & risk being trespassed when made angry via degrading examination process & told to seek budget advice for a $208 per week benefit.??? Winz just nasty since UK inspired jobseeker imposed.
idiot
Posted on 15-01-2015 09:23 | By rc
ok wisechief, if your argument was to stack up, why did they need to take 60, yes 60!!! trout from the spawning grounds. that in itself debunks your idiotic perspective. this was theft and pillaging by people who believe they are above the law, nothing else....
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