Kaimanawa REZ Aerial Deer Management

With assistance from the Game Animal Council, the Sika Foundation Conservation Trust applied and was granted funding through the Government’s Jobs for Nature Programme to deliver several deer management and conservation projects through to 2025. One of these is an adaptive deer management and research programme in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks. The project will be led by the Sika Foundation strongly collaborating with the Department of Conservation and will start with a focus on the 15,000ha Remote Experience Zone (REZ) in the Kaimanawa Forest Park…READ MORE.

Fiordland Wapiti Area Venison Project

The Game Animal Council and Fiordland Wapiti Foundation partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to provide 18,000kg of free-range wild Fiordland venison to foodbanks and feed thousands of New Zealand families in need.

In 2020 600 deer were removed from Fiordland National Park for processing into 18,000 1kg wild venison mince packets that were distributed throughout the country. This resulted in benefits for the wapiti herd, conservation due to lower deer numbers, provided jobs and employment for local meat processors and helicopter operators.

The project was jointly funded by the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation with the Game Animal Council administering the programme.

A big thanks goes to Safari Club International (NZ), New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, Central North Island Sika Foundation, Tahr Foundation and NZ Hunter Magazine who came on board to help with transportation and promotion.

Southern Lakes Helicopters and Fiordland Helicopters undertook the recovery, Fare Game processed the venison into mince and Bowmont Wholesale Meats provided storage facilities.

You can read more on the project including some great venison mince recipes from famous Kiwi chef’s here.