Welcome to the New Zealand Deerstalkers'
Association Incorporated Website

Our aim is to keep you informed with news of interest to members, potential members and members of the public.

Please Note: The website is currently being updated. Please check back soon for more information being added daily.

Conference 2009

Now up on the website: Conference details, Conference Registration Forms, and National Competition Entry Forms.

Click here to see more.

New Zealand Hunting and Wildlife - Issue #164 - Out Now!

Now up on the website: A preview of the contents, editorial, and a sneak peak of one of the fantastic articles in the latest Hunting and Wildlife magazine out now!

Click here to see more.

Pacific Regional Shooting Championships 2008

This bi-annual event was held again in Brisbane in November 2008. NZDA had teams in Benchrest, Scoped Rifle and Silhouette bringing home several medals in each discipline.

New Zealand will host these competitions in 2010 and 2012 at Tokoroa.

For further information, contact the Secretary of the National Shooting Development Committee, Sandi Curreen - phone: 027 441 0856 or email sandijo@clear.net.nz

Reports, results and photos are now available online.

Click here to see more.

Fundraiser - 100 Limited Edition Black and White 'Bull Tahr' Unframed Prints

NZDA has produced 100 limited edition black and white 'Bull Tahr' unframed prints (to fit 16" x 20" frame with matting board).

The original pencil drawing was created by Wellington art teacher Alan Patterson and based on the slide taken by Tony Pidgeon that won the NZDA Wellington Cup - Colour Slides in 2000.

Money raised from the sale of the prints well be managed by the National Association to provide funds to cover a request from Southland Branch NZDA for four radio tracking collars. The radio tracking collars will be used to assist the research work being undertaken in the Wapiti area of the Fiordland National Park.

NZDA has commissioned further prints in this big game series, which will also be available as limited editions.

Click here to download an order form.

NZDA 2009 Calendar - 'the way it used to be...'

NZDA has produced a 2009 calendar with 13 historical photos from the glory days of hunting, featuring the 1950s to the 1970s, including photos of famous legends such as Norman Douglas.

Features NZDA, NZCT, NZSR, NZPA and bowhunting championship dates, pig hunting competitions, militaria auctions, ballot dates, fishing seasons, national competition close of dates, duck shooting season and submission dates.

Click here to download an order form.

Submission on Behalf of NZDA to the Discussion Document Managing Numbers of Deer, Chamois, Tahr and Pigs

The New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated (NZDA) is the largest organization representing recreational hunters, with over 7000 members, and affiliated clubs with an additional 500+ members. Its policies are derived from its membership in a democratic manner after lengthy debate at its annual Conference. While NZDA does not purport to represent all 50,000 – odd recreational big game hunters, it is fair to say that NZDA can provide the most accurate reflection of recreational hunters’ opinions, and hence provide the most accurate response of any organization to the Game Animal Panel.

A copy of NZDA policy is attached to this submission for the Panel’s information. In addition, we attach a copy of a paper to the panel prepared for NZDA by Mr Bill Chisholm dated 7^th July 2007. This paper outlines the principal points of conflict between NZDA policy and current Game Animal management practices.

On request, NZDA can provide further information, references, scientific papers etc on any issues raised in this submission.

Summary of comments made on the discussion document:

• Game animals are a valuable resource, when at or below threshold densities;
• Game animal management will be far more effective when everyone works together in a co-ordinated way, via a Fish & Game-style regime – the Game Hunting Council (GHC);
• This will require changes to the Wildlife Act and Conservation Act, and possibly some changes to the WAC Act and National Parks Act.
• The new GHC should be administered by an independent statutory body, similar to the Fish & Game Councils;
• The GHC should be funded by a combination of taxpayer and hunter contributions.

Click here to download the full document.

Updated Version of the Arms Code

The Arms Code has been revised and rewritten into an easy-to-read, informative booklet by a professional writer. The first New Zealand Arms Code was written in 1975 by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council and NZ Police. Back then, MSC took on responsibility for training firearms licence applicants, using the Arms Code as their training resource.

Volunteer instructors with Mountain Safety remain significant and strategic partners in promoting both the safe use and control of firearms. Manager Licensing and Vetting Service Centre, Inspector Joe Green, PNHQ, says the Arms Code is central to firearms safety training. 'It's used by schools as a motivational reader for boys in the 10 to 13 age group.'

Joe says since the introduction of the Arms Code, and subsequent training, non-intentional deaths and injuries have dropped from an average of one a week to an average of one a month. 'The message to secure firearms has also seen suicide by firearm drop significantly,' he said.

While the Code has been amended several time since 1975, the content has been reviewed completely and rewritten. Many of the line drawings have been replaced by photographs. The revised Code is still produced in the handy DLE size - making it cheap to mail out and easy to carry. It's provided free to every licence applicant and can be ordered through the FMIS system. 'It should also be made freely available to schools, libraries, shooting clubs - to any person seeking to upskill in the safe use and control of firearms,' says Joe.

The Arms Code can be downloaded from the MSC website, www.mountainsafety.org.nz and from the Police website, www.police.govt.nz

Contact Us

New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association,
PO Box 6514,
Wellington,
New Zealand
Ph: +64 4 801 7367
fax: +64 4 801 7368

E-mail: deerstalkers@paradise.net.nz