A Danish man has been fined $10,000 for hunting and killing a rare native duck.
Rasmus Nielson, 24, was convicted and fined today in the Christchurch District Court after he killed a whio in March on the Perth River on the South Island's West Coast.
It is illegal to shoot or hunt whio, or blue duck.
It is a protected species, with fewer than 3000 birds left in the country.
Jo Macpherson from the Department of Conservation said the case was a reminder for hunters to identify their target and know what they're shooting.
The fine highlights the significance of New Zealand's protected wildlife, she said.
The duck shooting season starts this weekend.
