Weka slaughter trial under way

File photo / Herald on Sunday

An Auckland man who allegedly allowed his dogs to run loose in a nature reserve where one of them is said to have killed 14 endangered weka birds faces trial in Auckland District Court today.

Donald Shepherd, 66, of Warkworth, north of Auckland, has pleaded not guilty to five charges, four of allowing his two dogs to enter a controlled area and one of owning a dog that attacked and killed endangered wildlife.

It is alleged his great dane-mastiff cross called Scoobie and his shih tzu called Patch entered the Kawau Island Historic Reserve twice last year and that on one occasion Scoobie killed 14 weka - a flightless native bird.

On the first occasion, the dogs jumped over his fence and spent the night on the island until being found sleeping under a wharf by a local man who recognised them and contacted Shepherd.

He is then said to have lost control of the dogs while taking them for a walk and they ran off into the reserve.

A Department of Conservation ranger came across them near Mansion House, former home of Governor Sir George Grey, the next day and found 14 dead weka nearby.

Shepherd had installed an electric fence after the dogs' first escape but this was too little too late, Crown prosecutor Kate Mills said.

The Crown needs to prove that Scoobie was in fact responsible for killing the birds and also that Shepherd had not taken all practicable steps to ensure the dogs could not enter the reserve, she said.

Owning a dog that kills endangered wildlife carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail and or a $20,000 fine.

The trial is expected to last three days.

- NZPA