National Board Reports March 2026

NZDA National Board (Absent S. Langslow, and D. Friedman).

Dear members,

It is that time of year us hunters look forward to most. The hills are alive with the sound of roaring stags, camp fire yarns and helicopters buzzing about dropping expectant hunters to various locations.

I would like to express the importance of identifying your target beyond all doubt and being aware of yours and others overall safety in the hills. Operate within your capabilities and look after your mates. Treat every firearm as loaded, leave your intentions with a responsible person and check the weather. Being prepared can be the difference between an enjoyable safe trip or disaster.

Part of  good preparation is having a firearm that you are familiar with and is properly sighted in, make use of your local NZDA ranges and hopefully you have had the chance to partake in some sporting rifle competitions, if you are unsure what shooting is available at your branch be sure to ask. Practice makes perfect or as close to perfect as you will ever get, there is always room for improvement especially with your shooting skills. The last couple of years has seen some great progress within the NZDA and our shooting sports, I look forward to seeing it continue.

A lot of the NZDA board and operations team take substantial time during April to make the most of the roaring stags, please be mindful of this when contacting us as we may not be as responsive as we normally are. We will respond in due course, please don’t be afraid of giving us a nudge if we don’t we may have just missed it.

Hot barrels and happy hunting.

This year continues to be a particularly busy and productive one for us all, with a number of changes at a national board level and a growing list of projects and initiatives underway. While the workload has certainly increased, this reflects a strong and active organisation that continues to evolve and respond to the needs of its members and the wider hunting and conservation community.

I would like to thank and congratulate all those involved in the establishment of the new branch in Gisborne. Feedback has been extremely positive, with reports of a well attended and enjoyable evening at the local Hunting & Fishing store. The formation of this branch is a real credit to the local volunteers and highlights the ongoing strength of grassroots involvement within NZDA. We look forward to seeing the Gisborne Branch continue to grow and contribute to the Association in the years ahead. 

Planning for the annual conference is now well underway, and I believe it is shaping up to be an excellent weekend. The conference remains an important opportunity for members to come together, share knowledge, engage with national issues, and strengthen connections across branches. I would encourage all members to attend if they are able, and to take the opportunity to introduce themselves to someone new, you never know, you may walk away with a new hunting mate. 

The roar is now underway. By the time this is published, I will be on my annual South Island trip, hopeful of improving on last year’s stag. As always, this time of year highlights the importance of safe hunting practices, good preparation, and respect for both the environment and fellow hunters. Be safe out there and be prepared for sudden changes in weather.

I would like to wish everyone a successful and enjoyable few months ahead.

Thank you to the board, branch committees, and volunteers who continue to put in the hard work behind the scenes to keep the Association moving forward.

Good luck, hunt safe, and hot barrels.

Locally, the start of the year has been particularly busy in my other role as President of the Marlborough Branch. A significant amount of time has been spent overseeing three upcoming club trips:

• Nelson Lakes National Park

• Ferny Gair Ungulate Control

• Stewart Island Whitetail Hunt

But it's not all been bad, I have managed to get away for a Molesworth hunt (photo) and another local weekend hunt with success on each.

However this is not about me so I wanted to share a few other South Island Branch recent highlights...

Palmerston Branch

The Palmerston Branch successfully ran their annual Blue Mountains Young Hunters Trip, which resulted in 11 deer taken. This is supported by DoC, Forestry and Police. They also undertook a further red deer cull on private land, harvesting 21 red deer.

South Canterbury Branch

The branch has been heavily involved in submission work, covering both national-level issues and local matters. One notable local issue was car parking at Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

Despite reassurances in media reports, the situation has not been smooth, with lodge users being charged for parking. The branch has had to actively involve itself to support affected users.

Multiple trapping programmes are running, including:

• Mt Cook

• Timaru Penguin Colony

• Assistance at Lake Heron and other locations

These initiatives have enabled the branch to present a more balanced and positive perspective of NZDA to the wider community.

Gore and Districts Branch

The Piano Flat trapping programme is back up and running after the Christmas break, with rats and possums being removed.

The annual Take a Kid Hunting Weekend held on Glenary Station was a major success:

• 30+ deer and 4 pigs harvested

• Several kids under 16 participated

• Two kids harvested their first-ever deer

The branch’s annual goat hunt was also highly successful, with over 100 goats taken across the weekend.

Central Otago Branch

The branch continues to manage its trapline in the Landsborough Valley, which has been running since November 2023.

Results from the most recent maintenance visit in March 2026 show outstanding outcomes:

• 301 stoats

• 304 rats

This means over 600 predators removed from the lower valley in just over two years.

North Canterbury Branch

A game animal management hunt was carried out in the Lake Sumner RHA from 6–8 February. In conjunction with maintenance of the Top Hope Hut.

• 12 hunters

• 122 deer, 3 pigs and 3 Chamois harvested

This is just a snippet of Branches and what they are doing behind the scenes, it highlights how real conservationists just get it done.