WELLINGTON: Iwi leader Sonny Tau has been charged after being caught at Invercargill airport carrying dead kereru, a protected New Zealand wood pigeon.
The Department of Conservation laid charges on Friday against the 61-year-old for the alleged hunting and possession of the protected species under the Wildlife Act.
Tau has been summoned to appear in the Invercargill District Court on July 24. Before charges were laid, Tau had already expressed regret for his actions.
“This was a mistake, which I deeply regret,” he said. “The laws around native bird protection are important and to be respected by all, myself included.”
On Tuesday, the Ngapuhi leader had stood aside from critical Treaty negotiations with the Government.
Kererū are a fully protected species and cannot be taken or held without authorisation under the Wildlife Act.
Maximum penalties for the unlawful killing or taking of protected species are a fine of $100,000 and/or imprisonment of two years.
