Photo Credit: Hon James Meager (right) with Roy Sloan from the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.
Today, Monday 13 July, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Hon James Meager announced in Te Anau that the Fiordland wapiti herd has been formally designated as New Zealand's first Herd of Special Interest.
What The Designation Means
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The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation will lead the day-to-day management, working to annual operational plans developed with DOC and Treaty partners.
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The herd will be managed for hunting while keeping numbers at sustainable levels. The plan does not seek to grow the herd. A key focus is reducing browsing pressure so native vegetation can recover.
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Existing access stays the same. The wapiti ballot continues through the bugle season, and the designation formally takes effect once the hunting conditions are set out in the New Zealand Gazette.
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Oversight remains strong. There will be annual public reporting on herd management and monitoring, a review at least every five years, and the Minister retains authority to amend or remove the designation.
What Happens Next
A decision on the proposed Central North Island sika Herd of Special Interest is expected shortly. We will keep you posted as soon as there is news, and we will keep pushing for the wider law reform that will give this model long-term certainty.
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