Norwegians standing by to act against pigeon killers

Norwegian authorities have shown "definite interest" in the alleged killing of protected New Zealand wildlife by their citizens, but no action will be taken until an investigation here is completed in coming days.

The Department of Conservation is finalising a report on the killing of the birds, which came to light in a YouTube clip last month showing five Norwegian men, who have been identified, on a hunting trip to New Zealand in summer.

The clip, which caused public outrage, shows one hunter shooting at a protected kereru (native pigeon), the bird falling from a tree, and one of the tourists holding two dead, bloody birds.

The video also showed the tourists shooting a paradise shelduck with a rifle. Paradise ducks can be legally hunted only with a licence and a shotgun during the shooting season starting in May.

With New Zealand unable to prosecute the men now they have left the country, action will be in the hands of the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime.

"The Norwegians have shown quite a lot of interest in it," said DoC spokesman Rory Newsam. "However ... they are waiting still for information, in terms of details of what's happened, from us."