On 15 July 2026, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing formally designated a Sika Herd of Special Interest (Sika HOSI) in the Central North Island. The Sika HOSI was proposed by the Central North Island Sika Foundation.

This means that sika in the Central North Island HOSI area are now managed under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, not the Wild Animal Control Act 1977.

The designation provides legal recognition that sika deer in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks and Kaweka Forest Conservation Area are of special interest to hunters. It provides for sika in this area to be managed for hunting purposes while continuing to protect conservation values.

The Minister for Hunting and Fishing delegated management of the Sika HOSI to the GAC. This means the GAC is responsible for implementation of the Sika HOSI herd management plan. Operational delivery will be undertaken by the Sika Foundation under arrangements with the GAC. The Department of Conservation retains lead responsibility for ecological monitoring.

Get your Sika HOSI hunting permit here.

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Hunting in the Sika HOSI

As the special conditions for the Sika HOSI hunting areas and Forest Parks currently remain the same, no further action is required from current permit holders. Your current Open Hunting Permit for the Lower North Island Region remains valid. When you get a permit for the first time, or are prompted to renew your Open Hunting Permit, the new permit will reflect these changes.

Sika management

Sika HOSI management is guided by a herd management plan, which must be reviewed at least every five years.

The overarching objectives of the Sika HOSI herd management plan are focused on managing sika in a way that:

  • Allows for canopy regeneration and supports the maintenance of forest ecosystem processes and the protection of threatened species and their habitats.
  • Provides for high-quality recreational hunting by maintaining and improving hunter values associated with the sika herd.
  • Maintains and strengthens relationships between tangata whenua, DOC, the GAC and the Sika Foundation.
  • Increases management opportunities for tangata whenua.
  • Maintains and enhances hunter involvement in management.
  • Builds or maintains sources of income, partnerships, and in-kind support that assist with and advance the other objectives of the herd management plan.
  • Provides publicly accessible monitoring, research and reporting.

Implementation of the herd management plan will require monitoring of hunter satisfaction such as hunter feedback on quality of sika available, the hunting experience, and hunter harvest.

See the full Sika HOSI herd management plan here (PDF File)

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Annual delivery

Annual implementation is set out in operational plans. Annual reports will be made publicly available.

Operational plans are intended to be adaptive and updated over time in response to monitoring results and management needs. To support adaptive management and assess whether the objectives of the herd management plan are being met, monitoring and research will be undertaken, with findings made publicly available.

The 2026/2027 Sika HOSI operational plan will be available soon.

See Sika HOSI frequently asked questions here

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Background

The GAC and Central North Island Sika Foundation first met to discuss a Sika HOSI in January 2024. It took just over a year to develop a full Sika HOSI proposal, which was then submitted to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing with a letter of endorsement from the GAC.

In April 2025, the Minister announced acceptance of the Sika HOSI proposal, starting the statutory phase of the HOSI process, including public consultation.

Between April and December 2025, the Minister was supported by the Department of Conservation to develop a draft herd management plan and undertake public consultation on this plan.

The GAC provided advice to DOC during and following public consultation, to ensure the herd management plan reflected hunter values, remained operationally viable, and delivered on the intent of the Game Animal Council Act 2013.

In July 2026, the Minister decided to designate the Sika HOSI, approve the Sika HOSI herd management plan, and delegate management to the GAC.

See a detailed timeline for Sika HOSI establishment here (PDF File)

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Resources

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Learn more

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Page last updated 16 July 2026