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

Herds of Special Interest (HOSI) is New Zealand’s first opportunity in decades to change the way we manage game animals by recognising the value that they provide to the nation. HOSI is focused on hunters and hunting. It seeks to provide high quality hunting opportunities while delivering conservation outcomes.

I want to again thank the many hunters who took the time to have their say on the Sika and Wapiti HOSI herd management plans. That feedback reinforces the connection hunters have for these herds, the opportunity that HOSI presents to embed the value of these special herds and hunting in statute, and the need for management that is practical.

Over half of the submissions were from hunters or hunting organisations which shows strong sector support and engagement and awareness of HOSI. The next biggest group were conservation interests at around 20%, general public at around 6%, mana whenua and government/statutory bodies at around 4% each, and the remaining falling into sectors like business, tourism, and media.

Across submissions, hunter values, hunter-led management, ecological outcomes and monitoring were the biggest themes that shone through.

Hunters who submitted supported HOSI and the concept of the herd management plans but sought changes to align them more closely with management as opposed to control, which is the intent of HOSI. Hunters told the Minister that they value good access, healthy animals, a healthy environment, strong hunting opportunities, and the solitude and excitement that wildness experiences provide. That is exactly why hunter submissions matter. This feedback is helping improve these herd management plans so these two HOSI have the best possible chance of succeeding.

Our work throughout HOSI has been to continue pushing for these values to be at the forefront of HOSI herd management. Since consultation closed on the Sika and Wapiti HOSI herd management plans, we have been working with the Sika Foundation and Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, and advising DOC on the changes required to deliver on hunter values and achieve conservation outcomes in a practical way.

I’m aware that there are still some misunderstandings around HOSI and what they will mean for hunters in practice.

HOSI is not about turning public conservation estate into game parks and restricting hunter access. It is about the hunters and the herd, not changing the status of the land.

HOSI is not simply about growing bigger trophy animals. Good herd management is about healthy animals in a healthy habitat, with strong hunting and meat harvest opportunities. That means managing animal densities, encouraging the strategic harvest of females, and ensuring the environment is being looked after.

Done properly, HOSI will deliver benefits for all different types of hunting values as well as conservation outcomes.

As we move into winter, I also want to wish all tahr and wapiti ballot holders the very best for the season ahead. These are special hunting opportunities in some of our most spectacular country, but they also come with real risk. Cold, steep terrain and fast-changing weather can turn a trip from good to bad quickly if parties are not properly prepared. The basics of hunter safety matter – careful planning, having the right gear, carrying emergency communication equipment and good decision-making. Winter hunting is incredibly rewarding, but getting home safely is what matters most.

For those hunting in alpine areas, please also take care in kea habitat. Kea are cheeky, charismatic and incredibly intelligent birds. They are a protected, endangered native species, which we all have the responsibility to protect. When setting up camp, make sure you manage food scraps and gear responsibly, and think seriously about lead-free ammunition or reducing kea access to lead-contaminated remains. You can also contribute valuable kea sightings data, through your tahr and wapiti ballot reporting.

Enjoy your hunting and stay safe out there!

Corina

The Game Animal Council – your statutory agency, working to secure NZ hunting and the sustainable management of game animals.