Game council lauds wapiti application
The council, said in a statement, it congratulated the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation on successfully submitting its wapiti "herd of special interest" (HOSI) proposal.
Minister of Hunting and Fishing James Meager was considering formally designating wapiti as a HOSI in Fiordland National Park.
To support the wapiti HOSI, the government will also introduce a Bill to Parliament to clarify the designation of HOSI in national parks, through a small amendment to the Game Animal Council Act 2013. If passed, the Bill will clarify that HOSI can be established in national parks as was originally intended and clarify the existing legislation.
This move was criticised by Forest & Bird, which said it amounted to letting a North American species use a national park as a "vege patch".
"The value of Fiordland wapiti is recognised in the Fiordland National Park management plan, representing one of the few truly wild wapiti herds outside their native range, and providing an unparalleled hunting opportunity in one of New Zealand's most remote and rewarding landscapes," Fiordland Wapiti Foundation chairman Grant Dodson said.
"The herd holds historical significance and is a New Zealand hunting icon, given to New Zealand by United States President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905.
"In 2011, the Wapiti Foundation began managing Fiordland wapiti under a community agreement with the Department of Conservation. The foundation has achieved sustained management of wapiti that protects Fiordland's unique biodiversity first, and provides for hunting purposes second, at near no cost to the taxpayer."
He said the foundation actively managed the wapiti population to reduce impacts on the environment.
It also managed six back-country huts and more than 500 predator-control traps, protecting native birds such as kiwi and blue duck.
It had recently established a charitable trust enabling hunters to give the venison they harvested to foodbanks.
"The annual wapiti hunting ballot attracts thousands of domestic and international hunters, bringing with it an estimated $1.3million spend per year. Additionally, wapiti hunters contribute thousands of hours to conservation initiatives.
"The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation are recognised globally for how hunters and conservationists can work together to achieve shared goals, which is something to be celebrated and supported.
"Designating a wapiti HOSI will safeguard the long-term gains already being made for conservation, hunters, the economy and the wider community and ensure they endure, independent of shifting government priorities or resources
"The minister's ability to designate a HOSI has existed since the council's establishment by legislation in 2013. However, no HOSI has ever been created," he said.
"The reasons for this are complex and include political considerations and lack of a formal process for considering proposals and developing a herd management plan.
"The council looks forward to supporting the minister, the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation in the next phase of the HOSI process." — APL
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
29-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Game council wants role in national parks
The Game Animal Council says existing conservation law is outdated, needs to recognise the contributions of hunters to the environment and it wants to take over the operating of game animals in national parks. The council yesterday released its submission to the select committee on the Game Animal Council (herds of special interest) Amendment Bill which closed last Thursday. The Bill, if passed, would allow the minister for hunting and fishing to establish herds of special interest (Hosi) in a national park and therefore exempt the herd from extermination or eradication requirements under conservation legislation. The council was fully supportive of the Bill. It said in its submission to achieve effective and inclusive conservation, hunting needs to be integrated into "our conservation narratives". "By engaging hunters as partners in conservation, we not only harness their expertise but also embody a more comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship. "Hunters play a crucial role in controlling game animal populations, harvesting more than 350,000 big game animals annually (including deer), which exceeds government pest control efforts." The council said hunters and conservationists were often seen as opposites, but they shared common aspirations for protecting nature — driven by different motivations, but united in purpose. Current conservation law and policy did not recognise these different motivations or values that people held for conservation land. The Hosi mechanism enabled game animal management while protecting biodiversity on public conservation lands. It aimed to support hunting while preserving conservation values, the council said. Hosi were designed to focus on herds highly valued by hunters. So far two applications had been made — for sika deer in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks and wapiti deer in Fiordland National Park. Game animals were only currently referenced in terms of extermination. Having a Hosi in a national park was a new way of thinking about conservation. The council said recreational hunting supported about 2500 jobs and the guided hunting sector directly employed more than 530 people and generated more than $100 million in annual foreign sales. "There is a growing interest in sustainable, wild-harvested meat. Using taxpayer money to remove a reliable source of high-quality protein undermines public benefit," it said. "The management of the quality and quantity of game animals harvested by hunters has the potential to offer more effective control than an expansion of government control efforts." The council in its submission said hunters were only permitted to reduce or exterminate the very animals hunters sought to access. The submission also said game animals did not stay within mapped boundaries. Without physical barriers, game animals would cross between land ownership boundaries. Limiting Hosi management to one land ownership would lead to inconsistent and inefficient management. The council wanted to adopt a more unified approach that spanned all land ownership types and it needed more power to assist the minister in establishing and managing a Hosi. A Parliament spokesman said it was unable to say how many submissions were made to the Bill. The number would be released by the Environment Committee which would hear submissions. — APL
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Scoop
Construction Director And Engineer, Yang Kang Hong Qu, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For Hibiscus And Bays Local Board
Press Release – ACT New Zealand ACT Local has selected Yang Kang Hong Qu – a construction director with an electrical engineering background, as its candidate for the Hibiscus Coast Subdivision of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board in this year's Auckland Council election. Yang, 30, is a North American expat of Chinese descent who brings an international outlook alongside practical experience in engineering and construction. As director of a local construction company, he's used to working with people from all backgrounds, solving challenges on the job, and making sure projects stay on track and on budget. He believes that same practical mindset – thinking ahead, working smart, and delivering what's promised, is exactly what council needs to better serve local people. 'I'm running because I know how hard people work to pay their rates. As a construction director, I've spent years planning projects, solving problems, and keeping budgets on track, and I believe our local board should do exactly the same. Families deserve to see their money go into things that really matter in our community, like wellmaintained parks and facilities, safe local roads, and good services. A strong local board doesn't just make decisions on these things; it also advocates to council for the projects and investment our area needs. Together, we can make sure every dollar counts and build a community that works for everyone.' – Yang Kang Hong Qu Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Cutting the waste Ending race-based politics Restoring accountability ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: ' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture.' – Cameron Luxton
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Scoop
Construction Director And Engineer, Yang Kang Hong Qu, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For Hibiscus And Bays Local Board
ACT Local has selected Yang Kang Hong Qu – a construction director with an electrical engineering background, as its candidate for the Hibiscus Coast Subdivision of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board in this year's Auckland Council election. Yang, 30, is a North American expat of Chinese descent who brings an international outlook alongside practical experience in engineering and construction. As director of a local construction company, he's used to working with people from all backgrounds, solving challenges on the job, and making sure projects stay on track and on budget. He believes that same practical mindset – thinking ahead, working smart, and delivering what's promised, is exactly what council needs to better serve local people. "I'm running because I know how hard people work to pay their rates. As a construction director, I've spent years planning projects, solving problems, and keeping budgets on track, and I believe our local board should do exactly the same. Families deserve to see their money go into things that really matter in our community, like wellmaintained parks and facilities, safe local roads, and good services. A strong local board doesn't just make decisions on these things; it also advocates to council for the projects and investment our area needs. Together, we can make sure every dollar counts and build a community that works for everyone." – Yang Kang Hong Qu Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Cutting the waste Ending race-based politics Restoring accountability ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: ' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture." – Cameron Luxton
