Today’s Government announcement on a national wild deer control programme reflects a shift in approach that follows direct advocacy from NZDA.
Earlier this year, NZDA informed members that MPI and other agencies had begun developing a national deer management strategy without formally involving recreational hunters.
Once this was made clear, NZDA moved quickly and deliberately behind the scenes to change the outcome.
What NZDA Did
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Requested the original letters from Forest & Bird, Federated Farmers and others to MPI and other engaged agencies under the Official Information Act (OIA). Read them here.
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Engaged directly with Ministers, including a meeting on December 17th with Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
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Outlined the risks of excluding recreational hunters from a national strategy that directly affects access, management, and conservation outcomes.
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Challenged the process, making it clear that hunters must be part of any solution.
What Has Now Changed
Today’s joint release from Ministers Meager and Hoggard shows a clear course correction, including:
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A public statement that hunters are part of the solution.
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Confirmation that hunting representatives will sit on an Oversight Group.
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A commitment that no toxins such as brodifacoum will be used for deer control.
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A review of food safety regulations on wild harvested meat, opening the door to better commercial pathways.
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Recognition of hunter-led conservation as central to wild deer management.
Why This Matters
This programme will shape how wild deer are managed on production land for years to come. Because NZDA intervened early, the strategy is now being developed with hunters at the table.
What Happens Next
NZDA will meet with MPI and the Game Animal Council on 18 February to ensure recreational hunters remain central to the programme design.
There are more OIA documents to come, so members can see for themselves how the process began and how it has now shifted.
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