Spent the last couple of days exploring Tongariro Forest (old State Forest 42). Plenty of recent sign, esp on tracks despite the reasonably high number of people in there on all forms of transport. Had a DoC staff member zip past in his Postman Pat UTV on the way in, and several hours later had him come past again. However this time it was with one of our quads partly dismantled for repairs on the side of the track. Now despite us having a small workshop's worth of tools with us, and the room on the track somewhat limited with the quads piled up, he sped past, studiously avoiding eye contact, with nary a slow down in speed. Now I would have thought that as a Public Servant, and given the remote nature of a lot of the area, he would of at least stopped and exchanged pleasantries, to ascertain we were fine, before heading off again. Perhaps I was expecting too much from them???
IP Logged
Raptor
Donor Member
Offline
Falcons are Neat
Posts: 338
Location: Taranaki
Joined: Aug 11th, 2009
Gender:
Re: DoC staff Tongariro forest Reply #1 - Jan 5th, 2018 at 11:14pm
With that sort of attitude who can blame him for not stopping? As a previous Government employee one can tell you the expression 'Public Servant' went out 20-30 years ago - except for a few who hang on to the old attitudes. Let's examine the scene - broken down bike, number of guys (and girls?) and other bikes, a "small workshop of tools" looks like they know what they're doing. Lay that against the current spate of abuse against DOC employees - one believes he made the right decision! If he had stopped for "pleasantries" you probably would have berated him for that on here, he was at work and most likely had a long way to go to get home. Sometimes there's no pleasing you people! By the way we used to call the likes of you "The great unwashed public".
IP Logged
XRhunter
Forum Guide Donor Member Staff Online Forum Guide
Offline
I Love The FishNhunt Forum
Posts: 1569
Location: Central North Island
Joined: May 30th, 2014
Gender:
Re: DoC staff Tongariro forest Reply #2 - Jan 6th, 2018 at 1:29am
Was a public servant myself for 26 years. The term is still in legislation, hence I continue to use it. I use it to remind people where their salary/wage packet comes from. Your and my taxes. And what the mandate from the Gov't is for their jobs' existence. But asides from that: The tools weren't in evidence. Stored inside the paniers. Just a bike in bits. Had to squeeze past us, at a bit of a clip I might add. No rifles or camo evident. Just some guys and a girl scratching their heads. I would still expect a conversation, even a few seconds long, or the archetypal Kiwi tipping of the head upwards as if to say 'Gidday",but no, a studious avoidance of eye contact.... in the middle of nowhere. Go figure.
Were you lost? NO Were you hurt? NO Did it look like you need assistance as you were alone or struggling? NO
So its just about your hurt feelings I guess I am happy for DOC staff to go on with their business as should they stop by for casual chat here and there they wont be doing anything else...Don't wont to be rude but that's just the way I see it...
He could/should have looked you in the eye and asked if everything was ok. Common courtisy.
If it had been a group of Doc workers on the side of the track id stop and engage them in a conversation. Have done many times.
We are losing the art of the coutious nod these days, you know, careing and curiosity,and just interested to meet and greet those in your workspace.
I know, we would never get the job done or home if we engaged in conversation with everyone we came across in a day but I make the effort in that situation. Even if the effort is just for a few seconds.
Its easy enough if you make a habit of it.. and good for the brain, striking up converstions with strangers.
The world needs more of it.
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
DOC staff in Tong forest get constant shit from hunters including personal abuse and threats. Lots of it is about 1080. The staff are constantly cleaning up after hunters by the truck load - rubbish and rotting carcasses. Add to that hunters chopping down trees and clear felling for private bivies and huts.
I agree that common courtesy like a nod or meeting of the eyes could at least be expected, but I can understand why some DOC staff avoid hunters. If they engage with them often as not they will get abuse.
I agree though that the reported behaviour that started this thread is inexcusable and what I've said is not an excuse for what the DOC person did. But sometimes we do need to look at things from their perspective.
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.......
IP Logged
Pete82
Donor Member
Offline
Meat enthusiast
Posts: 335
Location: Canterbury
Joined: Nov 18th, 2017
Gender:
Re: DoC staff Tongariro forest Reply #7 - Jan 18th, 2018 at 9:01am
I actually think BC that your description adds the other side of the story to it and is somewhat an excuse for DOC guy or at least explains a bit...
Yes I find that comon curtesy here in NZ very refreshing as in Europe people would pretty much leave you to die on the side of the highway in most cases...
But cant see point of "publicly executing" the guy here on forum for something like this...
Shoot, cure, eat, repeat!
IP Logged
XRhunter
Forum Guide Donor Member Staff Online Forum Guide
Offline
I Love The FishNhunt Forum
Posts: 1569
Location: Central North Island
Joined: May 30th, 2014
Gender:
Re: DoC staff Tongariro forest Reply #8 - Jan 18th, 2018 at 8:40pm
I'll say that in previous years I have bumped into DoC staff in there, and had a right old chin wag with them . Hence my disappointment when this guy actively avoided contact. Remember that we weren't dressed as hunters: no rifles, camo, just flashy riding gear and smart looking quads and two wheelers (certainly could not be mistaken for dirty smelly hunters on quads )
Two options bout DOC fella. it is unusual for trampers/hunters not to say at least ‘hi’ when meeting in the bush - even though , on day trips on tracks, I have passed others that don’t acknowledge me. But you went either, you were a quad rider, which might make it even less likely to stop for a chat However, the Ranger could just been bit ignorant/unsociable with the public, or -he has had bad experiences with either hunters, quad/bike riders, others (plenty DOC. workers think hunters are just dickheads- because of negative experiences, same as hunters do about DOC. (reading this forum or certain Facebook pages would do that) -or he was blind
Two options bout DOC fella. it is unusual for trampers/hunters not to say at least ‘hi’ when meeting in the bush - even though , on day trips on tracks, I have passed others that don’t acknowledge me. But you went either, you were a quad rider, which might make it even less likely to stop for a chat However, the Ranger could just been bit ignorant/unsociable with the public, or -he has had bad experiences with either hunters, quad/bike riders, others (plenty DOC. workers think hunters are just dickheads- because of negative experiences, same as hunters do about DOC. (reading this forum or certain Facebook pages would do that) -or he was blind
Either way, why is it an issue? -
Its a bit of a sign of the times post possibly. Or maybe the bloke just had a hangover.
For me its about just slowing down for a moment so as to a. avoid a preventable collision, and b. slowin down a bit to give the stopped party a moment to hail you if there was a problem that required some third party help. Just basic courtisy and backcounty helpfullnes realy.
Once upon a time if I saw someone changing a tire on the side of the road Id stop and ask if they needed a hand.
Those times are long gone. We are all far to busy to do that, myself included...
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
I guess when I think about it I cannot remember a time in the bush (late 1960's till now) when I got no recognition from another person (active avoidance of eye contact even) when passing within a few feet of each other. No matter if they were a tramper/trapper/hunter/cyclist or worker. In fact we passed three different 'classes' of people in there apart from the DoC worker: overseas mtb/local trapper/dirt bikers, and all stopped for a chat, some albeit only a handful of words.