Latest news with #Wapiti
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Completely ghosted us': PNW customers detail financial losses, unfinished jobs tied to local contractor
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Picture writing a five-figure check for a new barn, only to encounter months of delays and setbacks, which often ended with little to no construction on the project. That's the reality for certain families in southwest Washington and Oregon, who share similar stories of unfinished work and big dollar losses at the hands of a local barn-building outfit. Dr. George Apostolopoulos lives on a little over an acre in the small community of Boring. He says well over a year ago, he signed a contract with Wapiti Pacific to build a decent-sized pole barn next to his home. He forked over at least $14,000 to get the process started. 'I kept asking for plans, and why aren't things moving along. I got verbal reassurance the project could still be done by the end of the year, once you break ground things move quickly, but none of that was happening,' he tells KOIN 6 News. He said there was a small septic issue he had to clear up with the county, but that was fixed fairly quickly. Weeks turned into months, and by February of this year there still was no construction or firm plan. That's when got a stunning email. 'I guess the 'Uh oh' moment came when he sent a notice he was going out of business suddenly,' said Apostolopoulos He wasn't alone. 'We were just thinking 'Crap.' We're trying to get ahold of him to find out, and he just completely ghosted us,' said Anne Lynch Roberts. She and her husband contracted Wapiti to build a structure on their property in Canby. After putting down about $17,000 to get permits and construction underway, the couple says they effectively have nothing to show for it except for some design plans. 'It's very disappointing. There's no protection,' said Roberts. Soon, she stumbled onto a private Facebook group that was filled with complaints about Wapiti and its tactics. 'There's 30 people in our group, and he was still trying to collect money from other people, even though he was out of business,' said Roberts. Both the Oregon Construction Contractors Board, and the equivalent in Washington, show complaints against Wapiti piling up this year. Some of the dollar amounts tied to the open cases top $40,000, and in one Oregon complaint obtained by KOIN 6 a customer says they're 'out nearly 90k.' The complaint also alleges that the little pole work that was done on their property fell apart earlier this year, and that 'the trusses collapsed […] jeopardizing the integrity of the complete structure.' The Wapiti website is no more, and emails to accounts tied to the company bounce back. The address tied to the Oregon operation is a PO Box near Sandy. Eventually, the owner and operator Matt Brindell did respond to KOIN with a brief email comment. 'We contacted all of the individuals who were in the process of being built but not built yet, letting them know that we were going to work through closing things out and figure out refunds, and sending those when appropriate…' Brindell wrote. He added that they're sending out promissory notes and called the larger situation 'unfortunate.' KOIN 6 offered to do an interview, including via ZOOM, but that didn't happen. For customers like Apostolopoulos, the entire experience feels beyond frustrating. 'You have to be pretty blind or willfully neglectful to not see a pattern here,' he said. Most of these cases in Oregon and Washington are still open, and mediation is underway in some of them. According to the state website, the construction license tied to Wapiti in Washington is currently 'suspended,' and the one in Oregon is 'voluntarily surrendered.' At least one other customer who didn't want to be named is contemplating a lawsuit, although it's not clear how much money could be recovered in that situation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Second Herd Of Special Interest Takes Step Toward Designation
Press Release – NZ Game Animal Council The GAC looks forward to supporting the Minister, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation in the next phase of the HOSI process. The NZ Game Animal Council (GAC) congratulates the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation on successfully submitting their Wapiti Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) proposal to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing, who is now going to consider formally designating wapiti as a HOSI in Fiordland National Park. To support the Wapiti HOSI, the Government will also introduce a bill to Parliament to clarify the designation of HOSI in national parks, through a small amendment to the Game Animal Council Act 2013. If passed, the bill will clarify that HOSI can be established in national parks as was originally intended and clarify the existing legislation. Fiordland Wapiti Foundation management globally recognised 'The value of Fiordland wapiti is recognised in the Fiordland National Park Management Plan, representing one of the few truly wild wapiti herds outside their native range, and providing an unparalleled hunting opportunity in one of New Zealand's most remote and rewarding landscapes,' GAC Chair Grant Dodson says. 'The herd holds historical significance and is a New Zealand hunting icon, gifted to New Zealand by United States President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. 'In 2011, the Wapiti Foundation began managing Fiordland wapiti under a community agreement with the Department of Conservation. The Foundation has achieved sustained management of wapiti that protects Fiordland's unique biodiversity first, and provides for hunting purposes second, at near no cost to the taxpayer. 'The Foundation actively manage the wapiti population to reduce impacts on the environment. They also manage six backcountry huts and over 500 predator control traps, protecting native birds like kiwi and whio (blue duck). They have recently established a charitable trust enabling hunters to gift the venison they harvest to food banks. 'The annual wapiti hunting ballot attracts thousands of domestic and international hunters, bringing with it an estimated $1.3 million spend per year. Additionally, wapiti hunters contribute thousands of hours to conservation initiatives. 'The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation are recognised globally for how hunters and conservationists can work together to achieve shared goals, which is something to be celebrated and supported,' Dodson says. 'Designating a Wapiti HOSI will safeguard the long-term gains already being made for conservation, hunters, the economy, and the wider community and ensure they endure, independent of shifting government priorities or resources,' he says. HOSI process established by GAC 'The Minister for Hunting and Fishing's ability to designate a HOSI has existed since the GAC's establishment by legislation in 2013, however no HOSI has ever been created,' Dodson says. 'The reasons for this are complex and include political considerations and lack of a formal process for considering proposals and developing a herd management plan. 'I'd like to acknowledge the significant amount of work that GAC staff have put into establishing systems and processes to enable the development of HOSI proposals. Without this work, there would not be two HOSI designations being considered by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing. 'I'd like to also acknowledge GAC Council members past and present who have provided governance and support for the HOSI concept, which presents an opportunity to establish consistent and affordable management of game animal herds that are highly valued in New Zealand. 'The GAC looks forward to supporting the Minister, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation in the next phase of the HOSI process.' Next steps in the process includes drafting of a herd management plan with consultation on that plan to follow. The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory organisation working to improve the sustainable management of game animals and hunting for recreation, communities, commerce and conservation.
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Second Herd Of Special Interest Takes Step Toward Designation
Press Release – NZ Game Animal Council The GAC looks forward to supporting the Minister, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation in the next phase of the HOSI process. The NZ Game Animal Council (GAC) congratulates the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation on successfully submitting their Wapiti Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) proposal to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing, who is now going to consider formally designating wapiti as a HOSI in Fiordland National Park. To support the Wapiti HOSI, the Government will also introduce a bill to Parliament to clarify the designation of HOSI in national parks, through a small amendment to the Game Animal Council Act 2013. If passed, the bill will clarify that HOSI can be established in national parks as was originally intended and clarify the existing legislation. Fiordland Wapiti Foundation management globally recognised 'The value of Fiordland wapiti is recognised in the Fiordland National Park Management Plan, representing one of the few truly wild wapiti herds outside their native range, and providing an unparalleled hunting opportunity in one of New Zealand's most remote and rewarding landscapes,' GAC Chair Grant Dodson says. 'The herd holds historical significance and is a New Zealand hunting icon, gifted to New Zealand by United States President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. 'In 2011, the Wapiti Foundation began managing Fiordland wapiti under a community agreement with the Department of Conservation. The Foundation has achieved sustained management of wapiti that protects Fiordland's unique biodiversity first, and provides for hunting purposes second, at near no cost to the taxpayer. 'The Foundation actively manage the wapiti population to reduce impacts on the environment. They also manage six backcountry huts and over 500 predator control traps, protecting native birds like kiwi and whio (blue duck). They have recently established a charitable trust enabling hunters to gift the venison they harvest to food banks. 'The annual wapiti hunting ballot attracts thousands of domestic and international hunters, bringing with it an estimated $1.3 million spend per year. Additionally, wapiti hunters contribute thousands of hours to conservation initiatives. 'The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation are recognised globally for how hunters and conservationists can work together to achieve shared goals, which is something to be celebrated and supported,' Dodson says. 'Designating a Wapiti HOSI will safeguard the long-term gains already being made for conservation, hunters, the economy, and the wider community and ensure they endure, independent of shifting government priorities or resources,' he says. HOSI process established by GAC 'The Minister for Hunting and Fishing's ability to designate a HOSI has existed since the GAC's establishment by legislation in 2013, however no HOSI has ever been created,' Dodson says. 'The reasons for this are complex and include political considerations and lack of a formal process for considering proposals and developing a herd management plan. 'I'd like to acknowledge the significant amount of work that GAC staff have put into establishing systems and processes to enable the development of HOSI proposals. Without this work, there would not be two HOSI designations being considered by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing. 'I'd like to also acknowledge GAC Council members past and present who have provided governance and support for the HOSI concept, which presents an opportunity to establish consistent and affordable management of game animal herds that are highly valued in New Zealand. 'The GAC looks forward to supporting the Minister, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation in the next phase of the HOSI process.' Next steps in the process includes drafting of a herd management plan with consultation on that plan to follow. The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory organisation working to improve the sustainable management of game animals and hunting for recreation, communities, commerce and conservation.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Forest & Bird Says National Parks Not Game Parks
The week after the Government published an action plan which skirts around a $1.5 billion gap in funding for conservation, Forest & Bird is baffled by the prioritisation of government time and energy into helping 512 hunters shoot 86 deer in a national park. 'It's hard to put into words just how questionable this decision is,' says Forest & Bird Chief Executive, Nicola Toki. 'The Minister has today announced he is going to start a process to provide special protected status to Wapiti deer, an introduced feral species contributing to biodiversity damage in Fiordland National Park – home to unique and much-loved endangered species such as kākāpō, kiwi, kea, pīwauwau rock wren, and whio blue duck.' Fiordland National Park forms part of Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, which covers 2.6 million hectares (almost 10% of Aotearoa New Zealand's total land area). It is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the largest and least modified area of New Zealand's natural ecosystems and the world's best intact modern representation of the ancient biota of Gondwana. "Instead of trying to ensure Fiordland can welcome kākāpō back to their home, this Government is instead looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a glorified vege patch – eating away at the very natural heritage that these sanctuaries have been legally designed to protect. What's next? A sanctuary for stoats?' Ms Toki says. 'New Zealanders expect our Government to look after public conservation land and our national parks have always been the jewels in the crown. That's why in 2010 the previous National government had to do an embarrassing U-turn on its plan to mine in national parks after a massive public outcry.' Undermining the incredible landscapes and habitats of Fiordland National Park so that a few hunters can shoot a small number of deer each year, is catering to a handful of vested interests at the expense of all New Zealanders. Forest & Bird is appalled at the ongoing attacks on conservation land. "This is merely the latest salvo in this government's war on nature,' Ms Toki says. 'Is there nothing that this Government won't do to our precious places including conservation land and national parks? Mining on the Denniston plateau, commercial fishing carve-outs in the Hauraki Gulf, selling off conservation land, and now game parks instead of national parks. 'New Zealanders are deeply concerned at this constant erosion of conservation in the very places that the Government has been charged with protecting. 'To be clear, Forest & Bird is not anti-hunting. Hunting is part of the toolbox in tackling the out-of-control numbers of browsing animals that are causing significant damage to New Zealand's environment and many of our members are keen hunters. Forest & Bird is supportive of the role the hunting community can and does play in helping to stem the tide of deer, pig, and goat numbers. However, we are equally clear that putting precious time and taxpayer money into a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) is not a priority.'
