Central Hawke’s Bay A&P Association president Richard Ellis fears offal dumped in the Tukituki River could be the remains of its stolen sheep.
The offal — entrails and insides of animals — was found by Waipukurau resident Shay Hepi and her nine-year-old daughter while walking their dog behind the Waipukurau Holiday Park, near the SH2 bridge, on Tuesday.
Central Hawke’s Bay mayor Alex Walker has described the dumping as “disgusting” and says it undermines the community’s image.
Ellis said 12 sheep were stolen from its grazing land off Mitchell St between March 16 and 20.
“While we can’t say for certain that the offal recently dumped in the river belongs to our missing sheep, its close proximity raises serious concerns,” Ellis said.
Senior Constable Andy Walker said they were following up on the theft with camera footage.
“The week before this, offal was found in the river under Pukeora Hill.”
He said theft of livestock or rustling was not uncommon.
“It happens more frequently than we know about,” Walker said.
“Farmers might notice a couple of sheep missing from their mob but don’t report it because they think maybe they miscounted and also because there’s bugger all we can do about it.”
Hepi said her daughter couldn’t understand why someone would do that.
“It’s so wrong. It was dumped in a popular dog-walking and fly-fishing spot,” Hepi said.
“It’s not nice to come across something like that and it stunk.”
A spokesperson for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council said dumping offal into rivers, even in small amounts, could reduce water quality.
“In slower-moving sections, decomposition can lower oxygen levels, while bacteria and pathogens could pose health risks to people and animals,” the spokesperson said.
Ellis said, as a not-for-profit charity, the A&P Society relied on grazing sheep to generate a small income.
“This helps to offset our largest operating expense – rates, which cost us around $15,000 a year.
“Every loss impacts our ability to maintain our facilities and continue serving the community.
“We are asking anyone with information about this theft to come forward. To support our ongoing work, we encourage locals to get behind our fundraising auction on April 13.”
Walker said she loved the pride most people had in the district.
“Most days I drive past a retired couple picking up rubbish in their neighbourhood as they walk their dogs, smiling as they go. Every year we hold an event where people help clean up State Highway 2 — it’s one of the most popular events on our annual calendar,” she said.
“It’s disgusting to see photos like this on social media and I am sad that this behaviour undermines all those in our community who do make an effort to look after our place with pride.”
Dead stock, domestic and other farm rubbish can be disposed of in farm dumps and offal pits, but not waterways, an HBRC spokesperson said.
“Our waterways are not the place to dump offal or carcasses. If you find offal or animal carcasses or rubbish dumped in waterways call our Pollution Hotline on 0800 108 838.”
Penalties for dumping offal ranged from issuing a warning at the lowest end of the scale to prosecution.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
