Welcome to the New Zealand Deerstalkers'
Association Incorporated Website

Our aim is to keep you informed with news of interest to members, potential members and members of the public.

Please Note: The website is currently being updated. Please check back soon for more information being added daily.

NZDA's Heli-Hunting Policy

* NZDA is opposed to the practice of ‘heli-hunting, as it defines that activity, on all public lands.

* Heli-hunting is defined by NZDA, as the ‘Carriage of hunters involved with the searching for, shooting or immobilising and recovery of wild animals, where such carriage of hunters does not allow opportunity for fair chase of wild animals.’

* NZDA supports the use of helicopters for well-managed and legitimate Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO), as defined in conditions of current WARO Concessions, granted by the Department of Conservation.

* NZDA supports the reasonable use of helicopters for transport, by recreational hunters, hunting guides and their clients, for access to defined, pre-determined landing sites or zones.

* NZDA is in principle, supportive of guided hunting. However, it is NZDA National Policy ‘to strenuously oppose commercial exploitation of the wildlife and natural resources of New Zealand, wherever and whenever such action is deemed to jeopardise, restrict or conflict with the public usage thereof, or to be contrary to sound conservation practice’.

* NZDA believes heli-hunting constrains public usage of wild game animals and wild places. We assert that it is a male-biased harvest which does not contribute to herd management. It impinges on the availability of trophy animals for the public, and seriously diminishes the ‘quiet enjoyment’ of our back-country by hunters, trampers, climbers and other back-country user groups.’

Click here to see more.

Conference 2010: Friday 9th July - Sunday 11th July

This years Annual Conference will be held in Palmerston North and is jointly hosted by the Taihape and Manawatu branches.

National Competition Rules and Entry Forms are now up on the website available for downloading. Please note that all competition entries MUST be received no later than 5pm on Thursday 18th June 2010. No late entries will be accepted.

Click here for more information.

Fundraiser - 100 Limited Edition Black and White Unframed Prints

NZDA has produced 100 limited edition black and white unframed prints (to fit 16" x 20" frame with matting board). The first edition was of the Bull tahr, the second edition was of a Red, and the third having just being released is of the Chamois.

'Chamois' - The original pencil drawing was created by Wellington art teacher Alan Patterson.

'Big Red' - The original pencil drawing was created by Wellington art teacher Alan Patterson and was based on the photo taken by Joe Hubmann that was on the cover of the NZ Hunting & Wildlife Issue 131.

'Bull Tahr' - The original pencil drawing was created by Wellington art teacher Alan Patterson and based on the slide taken by Tony Pidgeon that won the NZDA Wellington Cup - Colour Slides in 2000.

Money raised from the sale of the prints well be managed by the National Association to provide funds to cover a request from Southland Branch NZDA for four radio tracking collars. The radio tracking collars will be used to assist the research work being undertaken in the Wapiti area of the Fiordland National Park.

NZDA has commissioned further prints in this big game series, which will also be available as limited editions.

Click here to download an order form.

Game Animal Council Submission

A submission was sent to the proposed game animal council in response to the document entitled 'Options for Establishment of the New Zealand Game Animal Council', presented by the National Executive of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated.

The submission represents the view of the National Executive, and also stands as a statement of the corporate position and opinions of the 54 branches, and the 7,700 members of all of those branches within the Association. The submission also advocates in the interests of 7 hunting clubs with a combined total of 1,000 members, which are officially affiliated with NZDA. Click here to see Section 1.

Section 2 outlines a case in support of the appointment of two NZDA representatives to the new game animal council. This case is illustrated with examples of the physical, social and intellectual contributions the Association makes to the outdoor recreation community throughout New Zealand, as well as to the lives of its members. Click here to see Section 2.

Section 3 records the Association’s collective responses to questions 1 – 7, posed on page 36 of the ECDD, as well as an analysis of views of senior members and past presidents, expressly elicited by the Executive to inform this submission. Click here to see Section 3.

Section 4 provides addenda to be read with questions 4 and 6, and an addendum on matters and issues the Executive wishes to see reflected adequately in the drafting of enacting legislation for the council. Click here to see Section 4.

Click here to see more and for the full submission.

For more information please visit the Game Animal Council's website here.

Contact Us

New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association,
PO Box 6514,
Marion Square,
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
Ph: +64 4 801 7367
fax: +64 4 801 7368

E-mail: deerstalkers@paradise.net.nz