Deer Farming Notice No. 5, 2008
What is the Deer Farming Notice?
What are the main changes?
What has been the review process?
Where will deer farms and safari parks be prohibited?
Where will deer farms and safari parks be regulated?
What conditions will apply to deer farms and safari parks that are regulated?
What is the Deer Farming Notice?
The Minister of Conservation, through the Department of Conservation (DOC), has the legal responsibility to manage aspects of deer farming in New Zealand under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977. The Deer Farming Notice sets out where deer farming is allowed and regulates deer farms and safari parks. The previous Deer Farming Notice was gazetted in 1986 and had become outdated over time. Following an extensive consultation process the Deer Farming Notice has been updated. The updated Notice is called the ‘Deer Farming Notice No. 5, 2008’.
What are the main changes?
The updated Notice recognises that 80% to 90% of the deer farms that farm red deer, fallow deer, and wapiti, are of low risk and no longer need to be authorised by DOC to begin deer farming, or to meet DOC perimeter-fence standards. These changes will avoid administrative costs to farmers in low-risk areas and enable the Department of Conservation to focus its deer control programmes on keeping parts of New Zealand wild- deer-free. Deer farming will continue to be regulated in the northern and upper western parts of the North Island where there are no significant populations of wild deer.
What has been the review process?
1994: The Wild Animal Control Amendment Act 1994 allowed for unregulated deer farming within the feral range of some species.
2004: The Director General, DOC, reviewed and redefined the feral range of each deer species.
1 July 2005: A public discussion document about the keeping of captive deer was released, signalling the Minister’s intention to publish a new Deer Farming Notice, and was sent to stakeholders.
December 2005: 185 submissions on the discussion document were analysed by an independent contractor.
2006: Ongoing discussion/consultation with deer farmers and other interested parties.
2007: DOC completes recommendations for a new Deer Farming Notice
2008: Updated Deer Farming Notice published
Where will deer farms and safari parks be prohibited?
- In parts of Northland, around Egmont National Park, and on all islands (except D’Urville) - this has not changed much from the previous Notice.
- In areas on the Coromandel Peninsula, Waitakere Ranges and Hunua Ranges. These areas have been extended.
- Kaikoura Island (off Great Barrier Island) and Stewart Island. These are new prohibited areas.
Where will deer farms and safari parks be regulated?
- The farming of red deer, fallow deer, and wapiti, will be permitted in the north and west of the North Island outside of prohibited areas and will continue to be regulated.
- The farming of sambar and rusa deer will be permitted in the lower two thirds of the North Island outside of prohibited areas and will continue to be regulated.
- The farming of sika deer will be permitted in the central North Island and will be regulated.
- The farming of white-tailed deer will be permitted in the South Island and will be regulated.
- The farming of Père David deer (carried on at one South Island location) will be regulated.
- All safari parks will still need a permit to operate under each of section 12, 12A and 12B of the Wild Animal Control Act 1977.
- Perimeter-fence standards will apply to the minor deer species (rusa, sambar, sika, white tailed, and Père David deer).
- Perimeter-fence standards will also apply to those farming red deer, fallow deer, and wapiti if their deer farms or safari parks are located in the north and west of the North Island.
- Safari Parks holding red deer, fallow deer and wapiti in the lower part of the North Island and South Island will not be required to meet DOC’s perimeter-fence standards, but will need fences that are able to contain the deer.
What conditions will apply to deer farms and safari parks that are regulated?
- Deer farms and safari parks require a permit or authorisation from DOC
- As a minimum requirement, deer farms and safari parks will need to meet the legal perimeter-fence standards. DOC may carry out two-yearly fence inspections.
- Deer farmers may be required to notify DOC of any escaped deer.
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