Management operations under the new Sika Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) will get underway in Southern Kaimanawa from 20 October to 6 December.

This work will be combined with other recreational hunting management activities, including working closely with hunters on herd management and seeking hunter information on the health of the herd, hunter satisfaction, and the overall hunting experience. This will enable Sika HOSI management to provide for hunters while continuing to protect conservation values.

Operational information

Thermal assisted aerial hind management will take place in two areas:

  • Kaimanawa Remote Experience Zone (REZ): 20 October to 20 November
  • Waipakihi (true left of the river): 20 November to 6 December.

See a map of the operational area here (PDF File).

Signage will be installed at the entry points of Umukarikari and Urchin walking tracks; Southern Access Corridor; Waipakihi Road end, Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures base, and surrounding private land entry points to the REZ.

Operations will be taking place in the mountain beech habitat and alpine areas, with operators avoiding public walking tracks.

Where possible, animals will be recovered for autopsy and data collection. Any meat recovered will be provided to mana whenua or the mince for foodbank programme.

Read more about the 2026/2027 Sika HOSI management priorities here.

Background

The aim of the operations is to reduce pressure on the forest environment, support a healthy, sustainable sika herd, and maintain a high-quality hunting experience. This is done by focusing on reducing female sika and their family groups to levels to allow canopy forest regeneration and improve the health of the herd.

There has been extensive mountain beech die back documented in the REZ and Waipakihi areas since 2019, including in a 2025 survey of the Waipakihi. While the dieback process is natural, deer numbers should be managed to levels that allow forest canopy regeneration and replacement.

Below are photos that show the effects of dieback:

These operations build on the Sika Foundation’s Adaptive Deer Management and Research Plan, which has been underway since 2022. Since then, 1,500 deer have been removed from the REZ. Monitoring has shown this management has resulted in increased seedling growth as well as healthier sika (better condition and bigger) and a higher proportion and quality of stags.

To support continued herd improvements and canopy replacement, thermal assisted aerial hind management will be repeated in the REZ and begin in the Waipakihi.

See previous monitoring and management reports on the Sika Foundation website.

Forest dieback and herd management

Supporting canopy recovery is important for maintaining a healthy forest environment and, in turn, a healthy sika herd that can provide a high-quality hunting experience.

Dieback in forests is a natural process where areas of the forest reach the end of their natural cycle and die. This can also be caused by environmental events (drought stress), rendering trees more susceptible to insect (platypus beetle) attacks. Large areas of canopy collapse can also occur following weather events.

When canopy is lost, it is important that deer densities are low enough to allow sufficient seedlings to establish and grow into replacement trees. Managing deer browsing pressure therefore plays an important role in supporting forest recovery.

Recreational hunting is the first line of herd management. Where monitoring shows that forests need additional support to regenerate, recreational hunting will be supplemented with more intensive female focused management.

Hunter information and supporting management

The GAC and Sika Foundation will be sharing with the community where forests are under most pressure and where recreational hunter harvest can support positive outcomes for the herd and the environment.

Here are some ways for hunters to get involved:

Sika HOSI

In July 2026, the Sika HOSI was formally designated by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing. This means that 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, under the Game Animal Council Act 2013.

The GAC is responsible for delivering the Sika HOSI herd management plan which includes strict ecological targets. Sika HOSI operations are being carried out by the Sika Foundation and contractors.

It’s important that Sika HOSI management is science-informed and able to respond and adapt to changes in the herd, it’s habitat and the hunter experience. The REZ and Waipakihi thermal assisted aerial hind management operations contribute towards meeting two of the objectives in the Sika HOSI herd management plan, specifically:

  1. Sika are managed in a manner that allows for canopy regeneration and supports the maintenance of forest ecosystem processes and the protection of threatened species and their habitats.
  2. Provide for high-quality recreational hunting by maintaining and improving hunter values associated with the sika herd.

Read more about the 2026/2027 Sika HOSI management priorities here.

Learn more

See some frequently asked questions about these operations here.

If you have additional questions, please contact media@nzgac.org.nz