In March 2025, the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, supported by the Game Animal Council, submitted a proposal for a HOSI to the Hunting and Fishing Minister under the Game Animal Council Act 2013. Proposal summary: Wapiti herd of special interest proposal summary (PDF, 1,265K)

The consultation on the Fiordland Wapiti Herd of Special Interest Draft Herd Management Plan is part of the wider process for the Minister to consider designating Fiordland wapiti as a HOSI.

A similar process is also underway to potentially designate a sika deer HOSI in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka forest parks. Sika deer proposal for a Herd of Special Interest.

There is currently no HOSI designated in New Zealand. Find more information on Herds of Special Interest and how they are established.

What happens now

DOC has been working with the Minister, Treaty partners, Game Animal Council, Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, key agencies, and the community to progress this work.

This has involved targeted consultation and engagement with Treaty partners and statutory stakeholders – including the Ministry for Primary Industries, Game Animal Council, Department of Conservation, New Zealand Conservation Authority, Environment Southland, Southland Conservation Board, and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand.

Informed by the targeted consultation and engagement, DOC has drafted the Plan on behalf of the Minister for Hunting and Fishing. The Plan will be open for submissions from 10 November through to 8 December 2025.

Designation process and timeline

April 2025, onwards 

• Initial conversations with Treaty Partners and engagement with key agencies, including as part of the development of the plan.
• Led by DOC on behalf of the Minister.

September – October 2025 

• Minister reviews the plan and associated materials.
• Decides whether to proceed to public submissions stage.

10 November – 8 December 2025

• Draft HMP available for public submissions and feedback.

December 2025 – March 2026

• Submissions are reviewed and a summary is posted on the DOC website.
• The plan is revised based on submissions, ongoing conversations with Treaty Partners and follow-up engagement with key agencies.

April – June 2026 

• Revised plan and supporting materials are considered and updated by the Minister.
• Final decisions are made on whether to approve the plan and designate the HOSI.

June 2026

• HOSI designation is completed.
• Announcements are made in the Gazette and media.

July 2026 onwards

• HOSI operations begin.
• HMP reviewed every five years.

Background information

Proposed area: 190,700 hectares of Fiordland National Park. This reflects the location and boundaries of the existing ‘Wapiti Area’ in Fiordland National Park.

The proposed wapiti HOSI only relates to wapiti deer management within the proposed area. HOSI designations do not relate to or affect other activities on public conservation land (or their management).

Funding and resourcing for the management and monitoring will be worked on by the Minister and DOC as part of the next steps in the process. These are proposed to be funded through a combination of Crown and non-Crown funding.

The plan sets out the overall management objectives and strategy for the proposed HOSI. The plan will inform annual operational planning and monitoring.

Hunter access:

The FWF currently runs a wapiti ballot every year for the wapiti bugle period. This provides some 600 recreational hunters the opportunity to hunt wapiti bulls during the bugle. A booking fee is currently charged for ballot entry. This helps cover the operational costs.

The draft HMP proposes the use of a ballot and block system, during the bugle period, to allocate authorisations and manage recreational hunting of Fiordland wapiti. Any proposed new fees to hunt HOSI animals would be publicly consulted on.

Map of the proposed area: Proposed wapiti HOSI area (JPG, 73K)

Wapiti deer in Fiordland National Park

Wapiti deer were introduced to New Zealand from North America in the early 20^th century. The presence of deer with wapiti-like traits is concentrated in an area of Fiordland National Park often referred to as the ‘Wapiti Area’.

Wapiti can breed with red deer to produce fertile hybrid offspring. This has occurred in parts of Fiordland National Park where the two species interact.

For more information, see Wapiti deer hunting.  

World Heritage Area

Fiordland National Park is part of the Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area listed by UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Te Wāhipounamu also includes Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring National Parks.

All places inscribed on the World Heritage List must have adequate long-term legislative, regulatory, institutional and/or traditional protection and management to ensure their safeguarding.

A full assessment of potential effects from the designation of a HOSI is being undertaken, informed by the plan. This will include engagement with relevant stakeholders.

Any potential impacts would be considered in the final design of a HOSI and development of a herd management plan. This includes impacts on native plants, wildlife and landscapes which contribute to the significant natural and cultural values of the area.

Current wapiti deer management

The FWF are currently managing deer populations in the ‘Wapiti Area’ of Fiordland National Park. This is where most of the deer with wapiti-like traits are concentrated.

The existing management arrangement between DOC and FWF is set out in a community agreement made under the Conservation Act 1987. The agreement aims to achieve a level of deer control within the Wapiti Area that allows for the regeneration of browsed indigenous plants.

These activities are in addition to DOC-led suppression of wild animals in the Murchison Mountains for the conservation of takahē, and the commercial removal of red deer for the venison market by WARO across much of the remainder of Fiordland National Park.

For more information about FWF and DOC's partnership, see Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.

Game Animal Council Act 2013 Amendment Bill

The Government has introduced a bill to amend the Game Animal Council Act 2013 to clarify that animals in a HOSI within a National Park do not need to be exterminated.

This bill does not establish a HOSI, nor does it change the statutory process for designating a HOSI. Targeted stakeholder and public consultations will still be part of the process. This bill does not change any of the requirements relating to the conservation outcomes.

Anyone with an interest in the proposed amendment can follow progress of the Bill on the Parliament website: Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill: New Zealand Parliament. 

Related links

• Fiordland Wapiti Area Factsheet (PDF, 942K)
• Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF)
• Game Animal Council (GAC)
• Game Animal Council: HOSI Frequently asked questions
• Te Wāhipounamu - South West New Zealand World Heritage Area
• UNESCO World Heritage Convention
• Fiordland National Park Management Plan

Contact

If you have any questions you can contact: wapitihosihmp@doc.govt.nz