My family and I recently moved to rural Canterbury to a quaint little village surrounded by mountains and streams with plenty of hunting and fishing nearby; as you may expect, we’ve never been happier. The last few years have been tough on a lot of people, but if there’s one thing COVID and lockdowns have taught us that may prove to be a positive long into the future is that many of us can work from home. This factor opens a world of possibilities for improving the quality of life for many, particularly those of us who feel the importance of being out in nature. If I have internet, I can work, and with the increase in competition and the improvements in satellite service, internet coverage is no longer the problem it used to be.

It’s not all perfect though; the Canterbury high country hills take a toll on my koro knees, and the huge red deer roaming these hills take a bit more shifting than your average sika! Our fuel costs will go up, but I can honestly say, overall, it’s been a fantastic experience.

For you, the readers, look forward to a better quality of article from your editor and more online content as I explore my new home, the stunning Southern Alps, and the rivers and lakes in between – watch this space!

I feel compelled to remind everyone of the last few years of zero deaths from hunter misidentification and that most historical incidents have happened over the upcoming Roar period. Please remember your seven firearms safety rules, and if you’re on public land, remember you share it with other New Zealanders, so please make good decisions. The golden rule is: everything you hear and everything you see is another human until you 110% identify it as a game animal.

This issue brings our usual mix of trophy stories, how-to, gear reviews and fishing articles, and when I look at the writers and contributors to NZRod&Rifle, the depth of experience and diverse set of skills we have in the hunting community never ceases to amaze me. As a group of people, we’re incredibly diverse and cover the complete spectrum of society within NZ. I feel confident that with the skills we bring to the current issues of game animal management and conservation, workable long-term solutions that respect the importance and role of hunters and hunting are on the horizon.