The week after the Government published an action plan which skirts around a $1.5 billion gap in funding for conservation, Forest & Bird is baffled by the prioritisation of government time and energy into helping 512 hunters shoot 86 deer in a national park.

“It’s hard to put into words just how questionable this decision is,” says Forest & Bird Chief Executive, Nicola Toki.

“The Minister has today announced he is going to start a process to provide special protected status to Wapiti deer, an introduced feral species contributing to biodiversity damage in Fiordland National Park – home to unique and much-loved endangered species such as kākāpō, kiwi, kea, pīwauwau rock wren, and whio blue duck.”

Fiordland National Park forms part of Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, which covers 2.6 million hectares (almost 10% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s total land area). It is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the largest and least modified area of New Zealand’s natural ecosystems and the world’s best intact modern representation of the ancient biota of Gondwana.

"Instead of trying to ensure Fiordland can welcome kākāpō back to their home, this Government is instead looking at changing the law to let a North American deer species use the national park as a glorified vege patch – eating away at the very natural heritage that these sanctuaries have been legally designed to protect. What’s next? A sanctuary for stoats?” Ms Toki says.

“New Zealanders expect our Government to look after public conservation land and our national parks have always been the jewels in the crown. That’s why in 2010 the previous National government had to do an embarrassing U-turn on its plan to mine in national parks after a massive public outcry.”

Undermining the incredible landscapes and habitats of Fiordland National Park so that a few hunters can shoot a small number of deer each year, is catering to a handful of vested interests at the expense of all New Zealanders.

Forest & Bird is appalled at the ongoing attacks on conservation land.

"This is merely the latest salvo in this government’s war on nature,” Ms Toki says. “Is there nothing that this Government won’t do to our precious places including conservation land and national parks? Mining on the Denniston plateau, commercial fishing carve-outs in the Hauraki Gulf, selling off conservation land, and now game parks instead of national parks.

“New Zealanders are deeply concerned at this constant erosion of conservation in the very places that the Government has been charged with protecting.

“To be clear, Forest & Bird is not anti-hunting. Hunting is part of the toolbox in tackling the out-of-control numbers of browsing animals that are causing significant damage to New Zealand’s environment and many of our members are keen hunters. Forest & Bird is supportive of the role the hunting community can and does play in helping to stem the tide of deer, pig, and goat numbers. However, we are equally clear that putting precious time and taxpayer money into a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) is not a priority.”

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