Preface
The Department of Conservation is responsible for the management of horses known as the "Kaimanawa wild horses" because in 1981 a large part of their range was created a protected area under the Wildlife Act 1953. Also, the Department is fundamentally concerned with the preservation and protection of our natural and historic resources, significant indigenous flora and fauna, natural ecosystems, and landscapes on land it manages and advocating the protection of these elsewhere.
In the Moawhango Ecological District these roles must be reconciled as the horses have been shown to adversely effect nationally significant ecological values.
The Department released a Draft Management Strategy for the Kaimanawa wild horses for public comment in 1991. Concurrently, a series of research programmes was initiated to determine more precisely the ecology of the horses, their impacts on the environment and to identify possible options for management.
The research has demonstrated a need to remove all horses from parts of the protected area and to reduce horse numbers in all remaining areas, in order to promote ecological conservation values. Management is then necessary to ensure the remaining horses stay out of the zero density areas and to ensure the horse population does not threaten ecological values in the areas where they are retained.
Genetic researchers have advised that a minimum effective population of 300 horses will maintain the genetic variability of this herd.
Public comments reveal a wide public interest in the Kaimanawa wild horses. A variety of values associated with these horses and perspectives on their management were identified. The Department chose to convene a working party of representatives of the main interest groups to clarify associated values and perspectives and to develop this plan.
The Regional Conservator
Department of Conservation
Private Bag 3016
Wanganui
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