This weekend’s return of New Zealand’s biggest hunting event, The Sika Show, is an opportunity to further emphasise the
importance of game animal management and hunter-led conservation, says the Game Animal Council’s Tim Gale.
“There is no doubt that in the three years since the last Sika Show hunting has increased in popularity,” says Gale.
“All over the country new people are getting involved in hunting and many see it as a way they can contribute to good
management and conservation outcomes while also providing mahinga kai for their families and communities.”
“Supporting these new hunters are many amazing organisations doing fantastic work promoting, training and teaching them
about game animal management, hunter safety, and undertaking conservation projects. Our objective is to help empower
these clubs, foundations, trusts and community groups to be able to continue, and where possible, build on that good
work.”
The management of deer populations, in particular, is a major challenge for New Zealand. There is no one-size-fits-all
approach to this as different populations in different places present different challenges. Some are already being
effectively managed by hunting organisations working alongside DOC while others require more intensive management to
bring their populations down.
“The recently released Te Ara ki Mua wild animal management framework provides the opportunity to more closely align
hunting sector efforts with official management and design programmes that suit local communities and best utilise our
available resources. This is a key focus for the Game Animal Council over the next few years,” says Gale.
“Our 10 Game Animal Councillors and I look forward to engaging with hunters from all over the country and discussing how
better management can benefit the health of our native ecosystems as well as improve the quality of the game animals we
all love to hunt.”
The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory organisation responsible for the sustainable management of game animals and
hunting for recreation, commerce and conservation.