Image credit: DOC

On 13 July 2026, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing formally designated a Wapiti Herd of Special Interest (Wapiti HOSI) in Fiordland National Park. The Wapiti HOSI was proposed by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.

This means that wapiti in a small area (15%) of Fiordland National Park are managed under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, not the Wild Animal Control Act 1977.

The designation provides legal recognition that wapiti deer in 190,700-hectares of Fiordland National Park are of special interest to hunters. It provides for wapiti in this area to be managed for hunting purposes while continuing to protect conservation values.

To make this possible, the Government introduced the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill. The Bill received Royal assent on 30 June 2026 and came into force on 1 July 2026. It clarified that a HOSI can be established in a national park, and that the requirement to exterminate or eradicate introduced animals under the National Parks Act 1980 does not apply to a herd designated as a HOSI.

Learn more about the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Act 2026 here.

For Wapiti HOSI, management is retained by the Minister, with DOC supporting implementation on the Minister’s behalf. Operational delivery will be undertaken by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation under arrangements with DOC. The GAC will provide support to DOC and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation as needed.

Wapiti management

The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation was formed in 1993 and has been actively managing wapiti in this area since 2003. The Wapiti HOSI formalises the management of this herd through the herd management plan which must be reviewed at least every five years.

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

  • Enables long-term regeneration of browsed indigenous flora.
  • Supports high-quality recreational hunting, the sustainable harvest of high-quality bulls, and provides for the wapiti experience.
  • Maintains and strengthens relationships between Papatipu Rūnanga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, DOC, the GAC and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.
  • Increases opportunities for Papatipu Rūnanga and hunters to be involved in Fiordland wapiti management.
  • Supports adaptive management through sustainable funding, monitoring, research and public reporting.

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

Annual delivery

Annual implementation is the responsibility of the Minister, supported by DOC. Operational delivery will be undertaken by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation under arrangements with DOC.

For more information about delivery of the Wapiti HOSI, go to:

Background

The GAC and Fiordland Wapiti Foundation first met to discuss a Wapiti HOSI in March 2024. It took a year for the development of a full Wapiti HOSI proposal, which was then submitted to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing with a letter of endorsement from the GAC.

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

Between May 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 a Wapiti HOSI, and approve the Wapiti HOSI herd management plan, retaining management of the herd.

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

Resources

Learn more about HOSI

Page last updated 13 July 2026