Herds of Special Interest

A Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) is a herd of game animals on public conservation land that has been formally designated by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing to be managed for hunting, while ensuring conservation values continue to be protected.

A HOSI is different to New Zealand’s current management approaches in that it would aim to maintain a better-quality population of animals that hunters value as well as focusing on reducing the environmental impacts of these animals. 

There are currently no HOSI designated in New Zealand.

Read about how a HOSI is established.

The framework for a designated HOSI

The Game Animal Council Act 2013 enables the Minister to delegate management of HOSI to the Game Animal Council in accordance with a Herd Management Plan. Funding and delivery of HOSI management may be community-led.   These issues will be addressed through any process to establish a HOSI.

A HOSI can only be designated on public conservation land. Once a designated game animal leaves a HOSI area, it would no longer be a game animal and it will be managed as a wild animal in accordance with the Wild Animal Control Act 1977.  

The designation of a HOSI on public conservation land will not affect the ability of neighbouring landowners or managers to control wild animals on their own land.  

For a HOSI to be designated, the Minister needs to be satisfied that the game animal herd is of special interest to hunters, can be managed for hunting purposes, and that the management of the herd will be consistent with the wider conservation framework. Therefore, it would be unlikely that the number of wild animals would increase.

The wider conservation framework includes:

• the general management of public conservation land including such things as forest health.   
• statements of relevant conservation or national parks general policy,  
• and relevant plans made under the Biosecurity Act 1993. 

The Minister is required to have regard to the advice of a range of parties when considering whether animals are ‘of special interest to hunters’ and are able to be ‘managed for hunting purposes’. This could be:

• the history of the herd, the environment in which they live, or unique behaviours and characteristics, which make the animals special to hunters
• to maintain a healthy population of animals with a specific herd composition (for example, a specific ratio of young to old, males to females) that produces the animal traits (hides, meat, antlers etc) that hunters value
• to manage or coordinate hunting demand. 

See the Game Animal Council’s views on what’s of ‘special interest to hunters’ and ‘managed for hunting purposes’. 

How a HOSI is established

The Game Animal Council Act 2013 details how a HOSI is established. An overview of the process is below. Individuals, groups, and organisations will have an opportunity to submit/provide feedback on any draft HOSI herd management plans.  See step 4.

1. The Minister for Hunting and Fishing may receive a proposal. A proposal could come from anyone. It is expected that proposers will have a vested interest in, and knowledge of, the herd and land area being considered.
2. Once a proposal has been received and with advice from key parties, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing will determine whether a herd management plan should be drafted for a particular herd. The key parties include:

• • the Minister for Primary Industries; and, 
  • the Game Animal Council; and,
  • the Department of Conservation; and,
  • any relevant regional council; and,
  • the New Zealand Conservation Authority; and, 
  • any relevant conservation board; and,
  • any representative organisations that the Minister considers appropriate.

3. A draft herd management plan that is consistent with existing conservation legislation will be prepared by the Department of Conservation. The key parties noted above are consulted as part of development of the draft.
4. The draft herd management plan will be released for public consultation.
5. DOC officials will support the Minister to analyse submissions and consider feedback.
6. The Minister will decide whether to designate a HOSI and implement the herd management plan.
7. The herd management plan is implemented and must be reviewed at intervals not more than five-years. These reviews will be done by DOC and the Game Animal Council.