Sika deer proposal for a Herd of Special Interest

Introduction

The Hunting and Fishing Minister has decided to explore setting up a sika deer Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka forest parks.

The Central North Island Sika Foundation (CNISF) supported by the Game Animal Council (GAC) have sent a proposal to the Minister for consideration. He has decided to begin the process to potentially designate a HOSI.

There are currently no HOSI designated in New Zealand. A 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.

Find more information on Herds of Special Interest and how they are established.

What happens now

DOC will now work with the Minister, Treaty Partners, key agencies, and the community to progress this work.

The next phase will involve targeted consultation with stakeholders - including the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Game Animal Council, Department of Conversation, Treaty Partners, and relevant regional councils and conservation boards.

DOC will then draft a Herd Management Plan, and we anticipate public consultation on this will start in the coming months.

What’s being proposed for sika deer by the CNISF

Proposed area: 125,634 hectares of Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Park, divided into 9 management units.

Management objectives: Reduce deer numbers for sustainable forest regeneration, enhance hunter participation in sika management, and improve hunter satisfaction with sika venison quality and hunting experience.

Management strategies:

  • A combination of contracting professional hunters and coordinating volunteer recreational hunters to manage deer numbers.
  • Improving hunter education to achieve animal management objectives.
  • Increasing herd and habitat health monitoring to track progress.

Organisational structure: Aspects of HOSI management split across the GAC, CNISF and DOC.

  • The GAC leading herd management plan delivery
  • the CNISF contracted to undertake day-to-day activities,
  • and DOC leading ecological monitoring, regulatory oversight and providing operational and administrative support.

The proposed sika HOSI only relates to sika deer management within the proposed area. HOSI designations do not relate to or affect other activities on public conservation land (or their management).

It is estimated the HOSI might cost $820,000 to $920,000 annually. It is proposed to be funded through a combination of Crown and CNISF funding. Funding and resourcing will be worked on by the Minister and Department.

Map of the proposed area for the potential sika deer HOSI: Sika HOSI overview (JPG, 210K)

Sika deer in Kaimanawa and Kaweka forest parks

Both Kaimanawa and Kaweka forest parks currently have high numbers of sika deer, risking harm to forest structure. Sika deer preferentially graze mountain beech seedlings, and a high population of deer can prevent replacement of mature trees as they die off. Gaps in the canopy expand without replacement trees, and over time the forest is converted to low scrubland.

The area around the Kaimanawa and Kaweka forest parks in the Central North Island is the only place in the southern hemisphere where sika deer can be legally hunted on public land. Sika are popular with hunters – particularly during the roar period that runs from late March to early May – given their unique calls and behaviours. 

The sika deer originated in Japan and have been present in New Zealand for over 100 years. The Kaimanawa/Kaweka herd traces its origins back to the release of six animals gifted by the Duke of Bedford. 

Read more about sika deer hunting and sika deer hunting in Kaweka Forest Park.  

Current sika deer management

In Kaimanawa Forest, DOC contributed funding to support a Jobs for Nature project with Sika Foundation to manage deer in the Kaimanawa Remote Experience Zone (REZ), which is approximately 16,000 hectares.

In the past three years through the Sika Foundation Adaptive Deer Management and Research Plan, over 1,000 deer have been removed from the REZ to reduce browsing pressure on forest vegetation.

Related links

Contact

If you have any questions you can contact: wildanimalmanagement@doc.govt.nz