White-tailed deer are found on Stewart Island/Rakiura and at the head of Lake Wakatipu. These are the only herds in the Southern Hemisphere. They are nicknamed the grey ghost due to their elusiveness and are legendary for the challenge of hunting them. The rut runs from mid-April to June, but white-tailed deer are hunted all year round.

White-tailed are a smallish deer species with a light brown summer coat and a grey-brown winter coat with a white underside. Males (bucks) stand around 1m at the shoulder and weigh 50kg plus with females (does) lighter at 40kg plus. Only the males have antlers.

Valuing White-tailed Deer on Stewart Island/Rakiura

In June 2023 the Game Animal Council, with support from the Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust (RHCT), conducted a short survey of hunters to determine what white-tailed deer on Stewart Island/Rakiura and the hunting experience mean to the New Zealand hunting community.

Highlight results of that survey are available here and indicate that the experience of hunting white-tailed deer on the island is highly valued.

Results of the survey not only inform our collective knowledge but also help those with decision-making responsibilities understand the value of the white-tailed deer hunting experience on Stewart Island/Rakiura to both the hunting community and as a significant source of visitors.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

If you are hunting on Stewart Island, please remember to submit your hunter report to the RHCT. This information is important for measuring the contribution of hunters to deer management on the island. Reports can be submitted here.

Predator Free Rakiura project

There are two predator free workstreams currently applicable to Stewart Island/Rakiura:

  • Workstream 1-Predator Free Rakiura is an island-wider predator eradication project aiming to eliminate rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs from Stewart Island. It is due to commence in 2026. It was originally planned to start this year but was postponed by 12 months to enable Zero Invasive Predators to gather more information and work through community concerns.
  • Workstream 2- The Pukunui Recovery Project aims to protect pukunui/southern dotterel across 43,000 hectares. Work started last month across 6,500 hectares with the remaining scheduled for the next four weeks. While the pukunui project is not formally part of the island-wider Predator Free Rakiura programme, it is being used to gather information and test methods in relation to Predator Free Rakiura, including a deer repellent trial.

It’s very clear that everyone is passionate about the community, the Stewart Island/Rakiura environment and the indigenous species that live there. While everyone supports predator control in principle, there are wide ranging concerns about the Predator Free Rakiura and pukunui projects including the method of control proposed, impact on the white-tailed deer herd and the environment, the likelihood of success for this work, the level of monitoring and the approach to community engagement.

Stewart Island is an iconic hunting destination. The outcome hunters are looking for is a healthy environment which supports a healthy Stewart Island white-tailed deer herd, and for that herd to be available for hunting opportunities now and for future generations. Hunters want to be at the table and currently feel like they’re not being listened to, resulting in high tensions amongst the community.

The GAC has been liaising with a range of stakeholders since June last year and will continue to undertake its role of representing the views of the hunting sector and the interest of game animals.

Find out more: 

See updates from the GAC on Predator Free Rakiura here (PDF).

Rakiura Whitetail Trust

The Rakiura Whitetail Trust has been established to promote sustainable management of white-tailed deer on Stewart Island/Rakiura, balancing the cultural and economic value of hunting with ecosystem protection. This group will play a key role in helping to navigate the long road toward a balanced approach to predator control and deer management on Stewart Island/Rakiura.

To follow their work or get involved, visit their Facebook page.

Page last updated 26 September 2025