Nearly 100kg of high-quality wild venison, equivalent to approximately 775 meals, has been donated to Wellington foodbanks and social supermarkets through a joint project involving the hunting sector, community organisations and local businesses.

The donation has been made possible by the NZ Game Animal Council, Game Changer NZ (an initiative of the Wild Game Recovery Trust), the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) and Cameron Harrison Butchery.

Together, approximately 100kg was donated to six different charities based in the Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kapiti areas including several Salvation Army branches and the Wellington City Mission. This fresh, professionally processed venison mince, can now be distributed to free of charge, to local families in need.

Game Animal Council Chief Executive Corina Jordan says the project demonstrates what can be achieved when local hunters, charities and businesses work together.

“At a time when the cost of living is putting pressure on many households, access to high-quality protein can make a meaningful difference,” Corina says.

“New Zealand has a hugely valuable wild game resource. This project has shown how wild venison harvested by hunters can be transformed into nutritious meals for families in need.

“It is a great example of hunters giving back to their community by doing something they are skilled at and passionate about,” she says.

The project combined coordination and community funding from Game Changer NZ, traceability through the Game Animal Council’s Hunt and Share meat donation platform, the harvesting efforts of Wellington NZDA members, and discounted processing services from Cameron Harrison Butchery.

Game Changer NZ works with hunters, butchers, foodbanks and charities to coordinate wild game meat donations and raises funds to help cover processing costs – one of the biggest barriers preventing more donated meat from reaching communities.

Hunters participating through Game Changer NZ complete the Hunt and Share knowledge check before registering their harvest through the platform. Hunt and Share creates a donation record and batch identification number and provides labelling that follows the meat through processing and distribution.

Wild Game Recovery Trust Founder and Chair Wayne Langford says the Wellington project shows the Game Changer NZ model working exactly as intended.

“By bringing together community funding, skilled hunters, supportive butchers, foodbanks, and charities, we can turn a valuable wild game resource into high-quality meals,” Wayne says.

“Processing costs are often the biggest barrier to donating wild game meat, so the support of donors and local partners is critical. This project provides a practical model that can be replicated in communities across New Zealand, enabling more hunters and local businesses to make a meaningful difference.”

Lyall Jellyman

Lyall Jellyman, President of the Wellington Branch of the NZDA, said the branch was pleased to support the trial of Hunt and Share and Game Changer NZ, helping to develop a safe, transparent, and traceable process for donating wild game meat.

“We’re stoked to have been able to donate nearly 100kg of quality free-range venison to local families. It has been a great success, and next time our target is to reach or exceed 100kg. We hope to make a dedicated donation hunt a six-monthly event.

“Our hunters put considerable time and effort into harvesting these animals and it is incredibly rewarding to know this high-quality meat will be appreciated, put to good use and help Wellington families who are doing it tough,” Lyall says.

The Salvation Army’s Food Security Manager Sonya Cameron says demand for meat and other sources of protein remains high as cost-of-living pressures continue to stretch household budgets.

“Meat is one of the most requested items through our foodbanks, but it is also the most expensive to provide,” she says.

“This donation will be distributed through our Wellington foodbanks to individuals and families needing support. It will provide nutritious meals and help ease some of the pressure our families are currently facing.”

Selena Mills-Wierzbicki, Wellington City Mission Social Supermarket Manager, said meat products are some of our most requested and valued items in their Social Supermarket at Whakamaru.

“Times are tough at the moment, but donations of quality protein really do make a real difference, ensuring we’re able to help put healthy, nourishing meals on the table to support our whānau, tamariki and community,” Selena says.

Corina Jordan says the project shows that hunters can deliver significant community and social benefits while also helping to manage deer populations.

“This is one of a growing number of projects around the country where hunters are contributing high-quality wild game meat to their communities and making use of our outstanding free-range game resource.”

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Header image caption, left to right: GAC CEO Corina Jordan, Cameron Harrison Butchery Rob Cameron and Danielle Connole, Salvation Army Sonya Cameron, Wellington NZDA Lyall Jellyman, Wild Game Recovery Trust Wayne Langford and Sarah Gagliardi