News
Valley 4wd Club and NZFWDA Convicted and Fined for Deadwood Safari
December 13, 2019
On 12 December 2019 the NZFWDA was convicted of offences arising from two charges relating to breaches of the Resource Management Act during the Deadwood Safari National Trial in November 2018.
This follows the conviction of Valley 4wd Club relating to the same event, where Valley Club was fined $60,000 plus costs.
The NZFWDA was fined $38,000 plus costs on its guilty pleas.
In convicting the NZFWDA, the Judge made the point that he expected all 4wd clubs to be on notice to ensure their rules, processes and behaviours pay due regard to environmental risks and comply with all relevant legislation and Regional and District Council rules.
The National Executive of the NZFWDA accepts that its constitution and rules were not strong enough to ensure compliance with obligations under the Resource Management Act and has been working on changes to these and to the way that they are implemented across all our clubs' and members' activities.
The NZFWDA reminds every NZFWDA club and member, and indeed every person who drives off-road, that they must comply with Regional and District Council rules pertaining to water bodies, streams and rivers as well as to the wider environment, If there is any doubt about the interpretation or extent of these rules, best practice is to seek advice before acting.
The overarching Tread Lightly principle of the NZFWDA is to leave the environment as you find it.
Neville Dunton
NZFWDA President
on behalf of NZFWDA Executive Committee
This follows the conviction of Valley 4wd Club relating to the same event, where Valley Club was fined $60,000 plus costs.
The NZFWDA was fined $38,000 plus costs on its guilty pleas.
In convicting the NZFWDA, the Judge made the point that he expected all 4wd clubs to be on notice to ensure their rules, processes and behaviours pay due regard to environmental risks and comply with all relevant legislation and Regional and District Council rules.
The National Executive of the NZFWDA accepts that its constitution and rules were not strong enough to ensure compliance with obligations under the Resource Management Act and has been working on changes to these and to the way that they are implemented across all our clubs' and members' activities.
The NZFWDA reminds every NZFWDA club and member, and indeed every person who drives off-road, that they must comply with Regional and District Council rules pertaining to water bodies, streams and rivers as well as to the wider environment, If there is any doubt about the interpretation or extent of these rules, best practice is to seek advice before acting.
The overarching Tread Lightly principle of the NZFWDA is to leave the environment as you find it.
Neville Dunton
NZFWDA President
on behalf of NZFWDA Executive Committee