The Game Animal Council was established under the Game Animal Council Act 2013 and provides expert advice to the Ministers of Conservation and Hunting & 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 Conservation 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