By Corina Jordan, Chief Executive, New Zealand Game Animal Council

The new Sika HOSI (Herd of Special Interest) in the Central North Island is all about supporting a healthy and sustainable sika herd, providing high-quality recreational hunting opportunities, and enabling hunters to participate in management, while reducing pressure on the forest environment.

Sika in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks are now legally recognised as game animals and managed for hunting purposes as well as conservation outcomes. This is in contrast to before, when they were considered wild animals under the Wild Animal Control Act, with a focus on control and eradication.

As the Game Animal Council (GAC) begins managing the Sika HOSI, we’re working alongside the Sika Foundation to bring hunter knowledge, science and practical management together to support sustainable hunting and conservation in these areas.

We also have ecological targets that we must meet. This means we need to use the right approach in the right place – recreational hunting, which is central to the Sika HOSI; and management operations, which are targeted to priority areas where monitoring shows additional action is needed to deliver both ecological and herd health outcomes.

It is in this context that from 20 October to 6 December the GAC and Sika Foundation will work with professional contractors to carry out thermal assisted aerial hind management in the Southern Kaimanawa part of the HOSI area.

Operations are scheduled for the Kaimanawa Remote Experience Zone from 20 October to 20 November, followed by the true left of the Waipakihi River from 20 November to 6 December.

So, why are we doing this? Unfortunately, extensive mountain beech dieback has been documented in these areas over the last several years. While the dieback process is natural, deer numbers need to be managed to levels that allow seedlings to grow and replace the forest canopy.

And while deer do not cause dieback, heavy browsing of seedlings can prevent forest recovery. Giving the young trees a chance to mature will protect the forest’s future and the habitat that sustains our precious sika herd.

Because the Sika HOSI is focused on both hunting and forest health outcomes, aerial operations are designed to reduce populations to a level where the environment and herd health (e.g., animal condition and reproductive potential) can both improve. This will provide higher-quality recreational hunting opportunities over the long term.

If you are a sika hunter, you don’t have to do anything but may want to consider hunting the true right of the Waipakihi instead of the true left during operations. Please share your trip intentions via Better Hunting or email media@nzgac.org.nz so we can pass this information on to contractors.

See more information about these operations here.

Sign up to the Sika HOSI email newsletter here.

2027 Tahr ballot update

The GAC has recently been informed that DOC is considering predator control in the Landsborough in May 2027. DOC has advised that these operations will go ahead if monitoring shows rat and stoat numbers have increased to levels that could impact native species. A decision on whether the operation will proceed is expected in early November 2026.

The 2027 tahr ballot is currently open for applications and hunters can still apply for any of the Landsborough ballot sites. However, if the proposed control goes ahead, 9 out of the 14 Landsborough sites may be closed from the second period. If your application is cancelled because of the predator control operation, DOC will contact you directly and you will receive a full refund.

For more information go to the DOC website.

Mental Health Awareness Week

For many hunters, time in the hills offers breathing space from everyday pressures and a chance to reconnect with nature. Mental Health Awareness Week takes place every October. It’s a good reminder to make time for ourselves, spend time with family and friends doing what we love, and generally look after each other. Mental Hunts is an organisation helping to encourage conversations about mental health across our hunting community. They have lots of great resources that you can check out at mentalhunts.co.nz.

Recreational Hunting Areas

Lastly, I spoke about the new RHA (Recreational Hunting Area) information resource on our website in last month’s update. RHAs are some of New Zealand’s most important public land hunting areas, and I encourage all hunters to get out there and explore their local RHA.  You can see information about all eight RHA’s here.

All the best,

Corina