DOC response 'should be local'

COMMON SIGHT: NZ fur seals are a common sight on Northland's west coast beaches, but an Ahipara woman had difficulty interesting DOC.

An Ahipara woman is hoping to see a local point of contact established for the reporting of marine mammals in need of help, rather than relying on the Department of Conservation's 0800 DOC HOT.

Mereana Matthews said she had phoned DOC HOT after finding around 18 seals, some dead and others she believed to have been dying, west of Te Kohanga, but the person who took her call (believed to have been in Wellington) had not displayed any great interest, and had terminated the call by hanging up.

(The Northland Age understands that calls are taken by contractors, as opposed to DOC staff).

Ms Matthews said she would like to see a local point of emergency contact, either via a duty officer at DOC's Kaitaia office or via Te Runanga o Te Rarawa or the Ahipara Takutaimoana Komiti.

She pointed out that the department specifically asked the public to report sightings of marine mammals in distress, and she failed to understand the reaction she had received on this occasion.

She also intended to lodge a complaint with DOC, and had approached the Kaitaia office. A spokesman said Ms Matthews had done that, with a recording of her telephone conversation, and the proper process would be followed.

She told the Northland Age that she believed seals were coming ashore on 90 Mile Beach but were not being reported, while a DOC spokesman said New Zealand fur seals were a common sight on the west coast, and the fact that they came ashore did not necessarily indicate that they needed help.

It was unclear yesterday how many of the seals Ms Matthews saw had died, but those that were still alive were believed to have left the area.