As the dust settles on yet another Sika Show, its success made me think about how far we’ve come over the last ten years. With some amazing personalities and names in the hunting industry presenting and sharing their knowledge on the main stage, combined with the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon presenting a speech to a large crowd on the Saturday, it gave the show an air of momentum and progress for the hunting community.

In his speech, the Prime Minister talked about the importance of hunters in the community and how we represent a key part of Kiwi life. Many of us tend to disregard the utterances of politicians, and rightly so – you should always be judged on your actions more than your words. This time, however, the actions have kept in line with the words – with increased collaboration with government departments on key game animal matters, the appointment of the first ever Hunting and Fishing Minister, Todd McClay, and proposed changes to the Firearms Act being led by Nicole McKee. You have to admit, this coalition government have a commitment to treat firearms licence holders and hunters fairly and reasonably, which is all we’ve really wanted in a broader perspective. We must also honour the impact of those who’ve been fighting this fight for decades with far fewer resources, less funding and less cooperation than that which we now enjoy; undoubtedly, their efforts have set the stage for the massive progress we’ve seen in recent years.

As a community, we must also seek to support and look after those that stand up for hunting and gathering rights in NZ, as the battle is ongoing. For every win we, the public, hear about, there’s been thousands of hours of paid and unpaid work behind the scenes, and this must take a toll on health and family life. I appreciate the efforts of those speaking on my behalf at the top level.

It’s also worth mentioning that the magazine itself is in a great position with our YouTube channel being revitalised by new owners Harry Bodle and Tayla Fouhy, and some incredible new writers are coming on board. With Harry and I both producing content, we’d appreciate a ‘Like and Subscribe’; and yes, I dislike using those three words – however, your support is key.

Thanks to so many of you for taking the time to chat to us at the Sika Show. The magazine is all about you, the reader, and we always appreciate your feedback.