A Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) is a herd of game animals on public conservation land that has been formally designated by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing (the Minister) to be managed for hunting, while ensuring conservation values continue to be protected.

The Game Animal Council (GAC) Act 2013 provides for HOSI to be designated by the Minister. For a HOSI to be designated, the Minister needs to be satisfied that the game animal herd can be managed both for hunting purposes and that the management of the herd will be consistent with the wider conservation framework.  


HOSI is a key focus for the GAC. It signals the first shift in New Zealand where the value of a game animal herd can be recognised, and directly influence how that herd is managed on public conservation land.

On this page:

  • Background.
  • How HOSI is different to current management.
  • The HOSI process.
  • Current HOSI process.
  • Link through to frequently asked questions.

Background 

While the ability for the Minister to designate a HOSI has existed since the GAC Act was established in 2013, no HOSI has ever been designated. The reasons for this are complex and include political considerations, insufficient resources and lack of a formal process for considering proposals and developing a herd management plan.

Since 2022, the GAC and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have been working on establishing processes and tools so that HOSI may be proposed and considered for designation by the Minister.

How HOSI is different to current management 

Currently, wild animals including wild deer, pigs, tahr, chamois and goats are managed across all land by DOC under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977 for the purpose of ensuring “concerted action against damaging effects of wild animals on vegetation, soils, waters, and wildlife”. This means that DOC manages wild animals to minimise their impacts on the environment.

Current work is funded and managed through DOC. In some cases, DOC has community agreements in place where wild animal management is carried out and funded by another organisation. 

HOSI management is where game animals (deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs) that are valued by hunters in specified areas of public conservation land, are managed for the benefit of both hunting and conservation.

The GAC Act enables the Minister to delegate day-to-day management of HOSI to the GAC. Funding and implementation of HOSI management may be community-led. 

The HOSI process 

The process for establishing a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) can be broken down into three phases. The first is proposal development; the second is a statutory phase where public consultation happens; and the third is implementing management following HOSI designation.

Phase one: The first phase consists of the GAC working closely with the proposer and taking advice from DOC to develop a HOSI proposal.

Phase two: The second phase is where a herd management plan (HMP) is drafted. Individuals, groups, and organisations will have an opportunity to submit/provide feedback on any HOSI HMPs. Broadly speaking, phase two will follow these steps:

  1. Initial consideration on whether to progress a HOSI designation – the Minister will receive advice from key parties on whether animals are of special interest to hunters and can be managed for hunting purposes before determining whether a herd management plan should be drafted for a particular herd.
    • Key parties include the GAC, DOC, any relevant regional council, the New Zealand Conservation Authority, any relevant conservation board and any other representative organisation(s) the Minister considers appropriate. 
  2. Drafting of a HMP – a draft HMP that is consistent with existing conservation legislation will be prepared. 
    • Key parties are consulted as part of development of the draft. This may include seeking advice on proposed delegation of HOSI management powers to the GAC and funding. 
  3. Public consultation – the draft HMP will be released for public consultation. 
    • Officials will support the Minister to analyse submissions and consider feedback. 
    • The GAC will support the Minister by providing advice and recommendations. 

Phase three: The Minister will decide whether to designate a HOSI, implement the HMP and any relevant delegations of powers to the GAC. This will be formalised by the Minister through the Gazette notice process. Implementation and reviews of the HMP will follow. The HMP must be reviewed at intervals of not more than five years.

Note: Anyone can propose a HOSI. It is expected that proposers will have a vested interest in, and knowledge of, the herd and land area being considered.

Current HOSI proposals

The GAC has endorsed the development of two HOSI proposals:

The decision to endorse the development of HOSI proposals are made following a Council evaluation of whether the HOSI idea is likely to meet the first two requirements of a HOSI designation; that the animals are of special interest to hunters and the animals can be managed for hunting purposes.

The GAC considers that managing the sika and wapiti herds as HOSI will provide substantial benefits to hunters, the local community, conservation and achieving wild animal management cost efficiencies.

 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

See a list of frequently asked questions about HOSI here.