The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is reviewing the rules for homekill and recreational catch, which is the legal term for the meat you hunt. These rules sit under the Animal Products Act 1999 and have not been looked at in more than 20 years.
Submissions close at 5pm on Monday 5 October 2026.
At the moment, the law says hunted meat can only be eaten by the hunter, the hunting party, and their families or households. MPI acknowledges this wording has been applied inconsistently, and that some people read it as ruling out donations when it does not. That uncertainty has put hunters off giving meat to foodbanks and charities.
Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said in announcing the consultation: "Hunters want to give meat to their local foodbank, but many are not sure whether they are allowed to. Meat is the most asked for item at foodbanks and the most expensive to provide. We should not have unclear rules getting in the way of that."
What MPI is Consulting On
Who can eat hunted meat. MPI is asking whether to keep the current restrictions or remove them. Removing them would mean the law no longer limits who can eat recreational catch, and hunters could donate meat without restriction. MPI's discussion document notes this change would apply to meat processed by an MPI-listed service provider, such as a game processor.
Hunted meat treated separately from homekill. MPI is specifically asking whether restrictions could be removed for recreational catch while being kept for homekill.
Labelling. MPI is also asking whether listed service providers should be required to label homekill and recreational catch, showing where the meat came from and that it has not gone through the regulated food safety system.
Donation guidance. MPI will update its guidance on donating meat once the consultation is complete.
The 28-day rule. MPI is also asking whether to keep, shorten or remove the rule requiring an animal owner to care for livestock for 28 days before a listed provider can process it. This mainly affects farmers and lifestyle block owners.
What is not changing. Selling or trading hunted meat will remain illegal. Fish and seafood are outside the scope of this review.
NZDA's Position
NZDA sees this as a step in the right direction. Clearer rules and a pathway for wild venison to reach foodbanks, charities and the wider community would put more of what hunters harvest to good use. It will not solve everything, but it is a positive move and one worth backing.
Why It Matters
Hunters already play a real part in managing wild game, and MPI's own discussion document recognises that recreational catch can help with control while providing food. Meat is the number one request at foodbanks, and initiatives like Game Changer NZ have shown there is strong demand for donated wild game and plenty of hunters willing to give. Clearer rules would give hunters and branches confidence to donate without second-guessing whether they are breaking the law.
It is not yet clear how any change would apply to meat you butcher yourself rather than through a game processor, so if that is how you process your animals, it is worth raising in your submission.
Have Your Say
If this affects you, we encourage you to make your own submission. Submissions are by email only:
Email: 28dayruleconsultation@mpi.govt.nz
Deadline: 5pm, Monday 5 October 2026
