Man on trial after dog kills weka

A Hauraki Gulf resident was standing trial in Auckland District Court today accused of allowing his dogs to enter a reserve and kill 14 endangered weka.

Donald Shepherd, 66, of Warkworth, north of Auckland, faces two charges of allowing his dogs to enter a DOC reserve, and two of being the owner of dogs that attacked and killed protected wildlife - a charge that carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail and/or a $20,000 fine.

Shepherd allegedly allowed his dogs to enter the Kawau Island Historic Reserve in May last year.

Kawau Island is home to more than a third of the North Island weka population. North Island brown kiwi are also found on the island, and both species are vulnerable to dog attacks.

The North Island weka is a nationally endangered sub-species.

- NZPA