‘Herds of Special Interest’ threaten conservation values

Forest & Bird has warned that proposals to introduce Herds of Special Interest (HOSI) for pest species on public conservation land set a dangerous precedent and undermine the very purpose of these areas. 

“This is coming at a time when out-of-control populations of introduced browsing pests like deer are invading almost every corner of New Zealand, causing significant damage and cost to land occupiers,” says Forest & Bird regional manager Nicky Snoyink. 

Two HOSI draft herd management plans have been released for public consultation today. The consultation (wapiti here and sika here) runs from 10 November 2025 until 8 December 2025. This comes after the Government introduced the Game Animal (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill earlier this year, which welcomes invasive pests into national parks. 

A HOSI is a formal designation under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, for a species of introduced animal that the Minister of Hunting & Fishing considers is of special interest to hunters and that can be managed for hunting purposes on public conservation land. A herd management plan must be developed before the Minister can make the designation. 

Earlier this year the Minister for Hunting & Fishing received two applications for herds of special interest – one for Wapiti red deer in Fiordland National Park from the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and another for Sika deer in the Kaimanawa/Kaweka Forest Park from the New Zealand Sika Foundation. 

“It is vitally important for everyone to have their say here. If designated, any herd of special interest management plan for a species that is managed for hunting purposes on public conservation land must, as a bottom line, have a robust, achievable, and time-bound ecological goal to protect, preserve, and restore our native ecosystems and clear actions if this is not achieved,” says Ms Snoyink.

"New Zealand’s native ecosystems have evolved in the absence of introduced browsing animals like wapiti and sika deer, and even in low numbers they cause incredible damage to our native ecosystems by eating and trampling native plants and outcompeting native fauna for food. 

“The current exploding populations of deer, goats and pigs prevent regeneration and trash the ecosystem’s ability to be an effective carbon sink,” adds Ms Snoyink. 

“What New Zealand needs is a nationally coordinated action plan across all land tenures to control introduced invasive pests.”