Text and photos by Alan Knowles (published in the New Zealand Listener, May 2000)

Kids on the volcanic plateau care little for schoolwork prior to Easter when all critters should lie low. Ignored are the complaints of teachers, that killing's not on the syllabus. Sons are recalled from overseas, knives sharpened, rifles cleaned, tackle checked, 4WD's tuned and jet boats fuelled for the foray into the dank North Island hinterland. For there is cash to be had - best wild boar, stag, rabbit, trout - and pride in hunting prowess for the Swanni-clad contender. It all ends in the Ohakune Country Hotel carpark on Easter Monday when the last carcass arrives to be judged by a band of volunteers who have organised and participated in the Easter Hunt for 11 years, "just for the fun of it". "Everything here is fair game, and it all ends up on the dinner table. But don't mention any names as we're fed up with grizzly phone calls about cruelty to dead animals and stuff!"

The antlers are judged by the Douglas score system that combines the height, span, circumference, tine length and number of points in a formula that allows cross species comparison. Stags are in peak condition for the roar around Easter, and all trophy heads must accompany the carcass, to prevent cheating; and ears must be attached to carcasses to deter the entry of farm deer.

Thirty-three teams entered the Big Three category this year - each hunter being nominated to bring in a stag, boar or trout. The prize - $750, three Swandris and the Winstone Pulp International Cup. Only boars and stags are entered to conserve female breeding stock for future sport.

Although prizes go to the heaviest and best, there are other chances to be in the money. Gross weight is divided by the number of animals, in each section, and prizes go to entries closest to the average.

For kids under 13 the challenge is to bring in the heaviest opossum, eel and rabbit, with no restrictions on means of acquisition - trap, hook, gun, cyanide or road-kill.

Eels and trout require intact guts to thwart 'illegal' entries from the freezer. Trout are judged on condition factor, based on length, girth and weight.

Novelty events of possum throwing and boar carrying occupy the crowds while the judges do the serious stuff. In the boar carry women and children heft a 22kg boar carcass in the obstacle race; men carry 53kg.