Lack of evidence means no charges for suspected Hakataramea poachers - Timaru Herald
Police have located and interviewed the operator of a vehicle thought to be involved in poaching in the Hakataramea Valley, but have not laid charges. On the weekend of July 4 Omarama police responded to two chilling reports poaching in the valley. Omarama constable Nayland Smith said police, after being provided with a maroon Toyota Hilux Surf's number plate, were able to track the vehicle allegedly involved in poaching. "We've spoken with the driver of the maroon Hilux, but there's insufficient evidence. * Woman dives to floor as suspected poachers shoot near Hakataramea house. There had been no further reports of poaching in July, but Smith said police would still be doing further patrols in the Hakataramea Valley. In July, Table Top Station manager John Dale said there were about a dozen residents in each of the Meyers Pass and Upper Hakataramea Valley areas looking out for poachers. One of the reports was of suspected poachers firing shots so close to a Hakataramea woman's darkened house, that she jumped out of bed, dived to the floor and called police. Police received another report of poaching, in the same area, on July 4 in which a vehicle was seen spotlighting on a farm. The farmer managed to provide police with the vehicle's registration number. This vehicle was the maroon Hilux tracked by police. Source: www.stuff.co.nz
