NZDA H&W 198 WEB

Game management
Sika poised for Herd of
Special Interest status
by the Editor
Sika deer in the central North Island could be set to become New Zealand’s first Herd of Special Interest
(HOSI) under the Game Animal Act 2013 – what does the proposal say and what would it mean for the future
of hunting sika?
“A healthy sika resource, thriving
in resilient natural habitats and
valued by stakeholders.” That’s the
vision behind a proposal to make sika
deer in the central North Island our
first Herd of Special Interest.
A draft management plan and
proposal was submitted in June
by the Central North Island Sika
Foundation and drawn up by wildlife
ecologist Cam Speedy, of Turangi,
who has spent most of the past
20 years studying NZ sika in their
natural habitat. The plan is now
before the GAC for consideration.
If accepted (and there may be
modifications to the draft that will
add to the process) it will be sent
to the Minister of Conservation for
ratification.
“An informed, coordinated, outcomefocused
sika hunting force of thousands
will unleash and channel an enormous
amount of energy towards the
Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks.”
This all began in March 2015
when the Central North Island
Sika Foundation was set up by
stakeholders to work together
on developing a sika HOSI, and
subsequently to manage it. If given
the force of law, the plan will be
implemented by the Foundation
in collaboration with a wide
range of stakeholders: the Game
Animal Council, Department of
Conservation, relevant Conservation
Boards, the Kaimanawa and Kaweka
Hunter Liaison Groups, sika hunters
A mature sika stag with a good spread
of antlers and eight points – the trophy
every sika hunter wants
NZ Hunting & Wildlife 198 - Spring 2017 21