National Board Reports January 2026

NZDA 2025-26 National Board, photographed at the 77th Conference and AGM in July 2025, Invercargill. (Absent S. Langslow, and W. Iglesias)

Dear members,

Happy new year and I hope you have all had a safe and enjoyable holiday period, I was fortunate enough to make the most of it with some hunting south of Dunedin over Christmas with friends and family and then back to the north island for a camping trip and some fly fishing - closely followed by a couple of game fishing trips off the west coast of Auckland, all of which were very successful.

Our National Office is back in full swing and as per we are flat out, representing the best interests of recreational hunters throughout NZ. Submissions are open for the Arms Act Amendment Bill, so be sure to get yours in, this could be your once in a lifetime chance to have your say. I would like to thank Maureen Coleman of Thames valley branch for her efforts in facilitating open evenings to assist TVDA members with their submissions, a great initiative something all branches should consider in one way shape or form.

This year our National Conference will be held in the Hutt Valley, this Conference will be run directly by National Office and not in conjunction with any branch, the board has its hands full organising this. We are trailing this model to see if we can streamline the process and create value for our members and the sector. Included in this upcoming conference will be a trade show so keep and eye out for details and I hope to see your there.

There are plenty of exciting and important work streams and projects we will be getting stuck into in 2026. I am really looking forward to another successful year for the NZDA and updating you all as we make our way through the year.

With the roar just around the corner make sure you are preparing and fit for your adventures, a bit or pre planning and a rig that is in good nic goes a long way towards being successful in the back country!

Welcome to 2026 – and it’s already shaping up to be a busy one

As we kick off 2026, it’s pretty clear this year isn’t going to muck around. There’s a lot happening across the hunting and shooting space, and plenty that needs our attention as members, branches, and as a national organisation.

First cab off the rank is the Arms Bill submission process. We’ve got until 16 February to get submissions in. This legislation will directly affect how we operate day to day, so it’s important we front up and have our say. Practical submissions from passionate Kiwi hunters and shooters—people who live it and understand what works on the ground—really do matter.

Hot on its heels is another deadline that can’t be ignored. Branches have until 5 April to make sure they’re fully compliant with the new Clubs & Societies Act. This isn’t a box-ticking exercise. Branches that don’t get themselves across the line risk de-registration, which would have serious consequences for members, assets, and the future of the branch. If you’re unsure where you’re at, now’s the time to check.

Out in the hills, the Roar is just around the corner, and with that comes the usual reminders around safety, planning, and looking out for one another. We also have management hunts coming up in the Ruahines, building on the success of last year, delivered in partnership with local iwi and DOC. These hunts are a good example of hunters being part of the solution and delivering real conservation outcomes.

The Landowner Assist Programme is also starting to make solid inroads, helping private landowners deal with deer and other ungulate challenges on their properties. It’s another practical way hunters are stepping up and making a real difference on the ground. If you want more information on how this works, or how your branch can get involved, flick me an email.

Over the coming months I’ll be getting out and about to branches across the Lower North Island, saying g’day, catching up with committees and members, and seeing where I can help.

It’s shaping up to be a full-noise year, but a good one. Stay engaged, stay safe, and I’ll see you out there.

Trev

Happy New Year to you all,

I hope everyone had a good break and managed to wind down from the stresses of last year, as this year is starting to wind up there is going to be plenty to get excited about, as my email box starts filling up again I am already starting to think about the Roar and what I am planning on targeting. I'll be heading down south with my usual crew for the red roar and I have recently got onto a block with good numbers of fallow deer so I have been keeping an eye on a couple of bucks to see how good they will be once the antler finally hardens up.

Please get your submissions in for the Arms Bill Consultation, I know there is definitely “submission fatigue” and I understand but the more of us that add our thoughts the more we down out the views of people that don’t understand our way of life.

Always remember, your involvement matters. Whether it’s making a submission on HOSI or the Arms Act, volunteering at events, or simply spreading the word, every contribution strengthens our voice and our community. Let’s keep the momentum going, together we can make a real impact for hunters and conservation in New Zealand.

Looking forward to catching up soon

Stuart

Wow, Christmas is a distant memory but it seems like only yesterday I was writing my last report and unfortunately for me I find myself with time to get something out, having just cancelled my Molesworth hunt because mother nature is not playing nice.

The election date has just been announced...so what? Well, this is an important time for us to put the candidates under the spotlight and advocate for recreational hunters. Clubs where possible should be looking to get their local candidates along to club nights and question them on policies relating to hunting and firearms.

A big congratulations to Richard Wells (Nelson Branch, and my predecessor) for being recognised as an 'Access Champion' by the Outdoor Access Commission. Richard works extremely hard behind the scenes on access issues as Chair of the NAC (National Access Committee - A sub-committee of NZDA). A very deserving candidate, well done Richard!

Locally not too much has happened recently that I haven't already reported on, although lots of planning is going on by committees for their year ahead. One such example is a Nelson Lakes National Park animal control hunt in late April involving surrounding clubs and a couple from across the ditch. Tweaking the operation parameters and dates appears to have been a success with an influx of keen hunters now leading to an oversupply of registrations. This is great though as previously the trip has struggled with numbers to fill the blocks. Successful applicants will be carrying out animal control, gathering data, and donating protein to foodbanks where possible in this beautiful and remote area of NZ. Photo from a previous trip waiting for the fog to clear.