Have your say on a draft plan to manage wapiti deer as a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) in part of Fiordland National Park.

The Fiordland Wapiti Herd of Special Interest Draft Herd Management Plan (the Plan) seeks to maintain deer numbers at a level that:

• enhances the recreational wapiti hunting experience, including the opportunity to hunt healthier animals; and
• improves natural biodiversity and prevents the loss of native species from their current range.

The plan includes ways to manage recreational hunting, build partnerships and community stewardship, carry out professional deer control and meat recovery, and track social and environmental impacts.

The plan outlines a new approach to managing deer under the Game Animal Council Act 2013 - one that supports hunting while ensuring conservation values are still protected.

Download and read the Plan (PDF, 2,164K)

Download and read the consultation support document (PDF, 1,813K)

HOSI process

Find more information on the Wapiti deer proposal for a Herd of Special Interest

This includes information on wapiti deer in Fiordland National Park, current wapiti deer management, and an overview of the HOSI process and timeline.

Submissions

Submissions closed 8 December 2025.

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. 

Submissions received and summary report

A total of 352 submissions were received. 

Read the summary of submissions report (PDF, 508K)

Full submissions:

• Full submissions record (PDF, 4,733K)
• Submission attachments – submitter last names A - Cor (PDF, 22,816K)
• Submission attachments – submitter last names Cot – H (PDF, 22,908K)
• Submission attachments – submitter last names J - Sn (PDF, 23,790K)
• Submission attachments – submitter last names Sp – U (PDF, 19,315K)
• Submission attachments – submitter last names Wa – Wr (PDF, 7,158K)

How to find a submission

Use the contents page of the full submissions record to locate a specific submitter. The page number for each submission appears in the column to the right of the submitter’s name. Navigate to that page to view the submission in the document.

If an individual submission includes an attachment or supporting documents, this is stated in the full submissions record document. The supporting documents and submission attachments can be found in relevant submission attachments documents (organised above by submitters last name).

Redactions of contact details, and other private information, have been made in accordance with Department policy and relevant legislation.

What happens next

• Options will be developed to revise the draft plan based on submissions, ongoing conversations with Treaty partners and follow up engagement with key agencies.
• The Minister for Hunting and Fishing will consider the feedback and updates before making any decisions on the Plan and deciding whether to designate the Fiordland Wapiti Herd of Special Interest.

For the latest process timeline, see Wapiti deer proposal for a Herd of Special Interest

Contact

If you have any questions about the submission process, you can contact the DOC Wapiti HOSI Project Team: wapitihosihmp@doc.govt.nz