This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received a concession application for a term of 10 years.
Application details
Applicant: Fiordland Wapiti Foundation
Application Number: 119729-WARS
Concession Applied for: Wild Animal Recovery Operations concession
Location of Proposed Activity: Wapiti Blocks and Murchison Mountains in Fiordland National Park, west of lake Te Anau. Map reference - X:1170000 Y: 5000000.
Note: The Foundation has confirmed that its application is amended to relate only to the Foundation’s wapiti blocks, the Murchison Mountains and a small buffer area intended to prevent incursion of other wild animals into the wapiti area, as shown on the map. See the document link below “FWF proposed WARO Areas including Cull buffer”.
Summary of Proposal: The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation currently undertakes conservation work and controls wapiti in part of Fiordland National Park (known as the “Wapiti Area”), subject to an arrangement made under section 53 of the Conservation Act. It is required to control wapiti numbers and deer in the Murchison Mountains, including using helicopter operators to locate, shoot and recover deer. The Foundation has sought for this aspect of its operations to be authorised by concession (a “WARO permit”). A WARO permit would make clear that these activities can occur in an area where national WARO is not permitted.
Application Document:
- Application form (PDF, 582K)
- FWF proposed WARO Areas including Cull buffer (PDF, 1,368K)
- Understanding Deer impacts in northern Fiordland (PDF, 9,375K)
How to make a submission
Any person or organisation can make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Submissions closed on 19 September 2025 at 11.59 pm.
1. Prepare your submission
Record what you think in the submission form.
Submission Form:
Any person or organisation wishing to be heard at a possible hearing in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.
2. Send us your submission
You can make a submission by sending the written or electronic submission form to:
Email: Senior Permissions Advisor, Carl Jones at askpermissions@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Submission on WARO Application 119279-WARS
Post:
Director General
Department of Conservation
Hokitika Shared Services
Private Bag 701
Hokitika 7842
Attention: Carl Jones, Senior Permissions Advisor
Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.
What happens next
After submissions close:
- DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
- A hearing may be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this.
- DOC will analyse and consider information raised at a hearing if a hearing occurs.
- DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
- The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.
Hearing details
If a hearing is required, a date will be arranged and those wishing to be heard informed.
Decision
No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.
DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications
The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.
Contact
If you have any questions about the application or the submission process, contact us via email Carl Jones, Senior Permissions Advisor at: askpermissions@doc.govt.nz