The Game Animal Council was established under the Game Animal Council Act 2013 and provides expert advice to the Ministers of Conservation and Hunting and Fishing on hunting and the management of game animals (deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs). It is a source of information and education to the hunting sector and promotes hunter safety and hunter-led conservation while seeking to improve recreational, community and commercial hunting opportunities.
Key functions of the GAC include:
- Advising and making recommendations to the Minister of Hunting and Fishing on hunting issues
- Providing information and education to the hunting sector
- Promoting safety initiatives
- Conducting game animal research
- Raising awareness of the views of the hunting sector
- Liaising with hunters, hunting organisations, representatives of tangata whenua, local authorities, landowners, the New Zealand Conservation Authority, conservation boards, and the Department of Conservation to improve hunting opportunities