In an ongoing effort led by the Central North Island Sika Foundation, more than 10,000kg of free range venison mince has now been donated to Foodbanks and other food charities in Tūrangi, Taupō and the wider North Island. This incredible milestone highlights the value game animals have in supporting families in need.

The meat has been sourced from over-abundant deer herds in the Central North Island and is mostly provided by recreational hunters. The Sika Foundation manages the donation process in consultation with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), ensuring the donated meat meets safety standards.

“Since this project started in 2020, our goal has been to provide up to 100kg of high-quality organic protein each per week, as that would keep the local Foodbank’s freezers full and cut their weekly food budget in half,” says wildlife ecologist and Sika Foundation spokesperson, Cam Speedy.

“We are thankful to all the New Zealand hunters who make this possible and for the ongoing support of our project sponsors, including Blood Origins, Genesis Energy, Helisika, Caspak NZ, Ashurst Engineering & Construction, Poronui, Cambridge Home Kill Ltd and Farm & Game Meat Processors Ltd Taupō,” he says.

Since the Sika Foundation was founded in March 2015, they have been actively involved in the research, data collection and management of Sika deer in the Central North Island. The goal of their work is to gain a better understanding of the herd and help educate hunters and the wider community on protecting the special nature of Sika and their habitat.

Community support and conservation are major focus points for the organisation, and Sika Foundation volunteers assist in a variety of ways. The Foundation has also initiated an ongoing predator control project to protect the vulnerable Whio population along the Kaipo and Oamaru Rivers and organises hut and track maintenance in the Kaimanawa Forest Park.

In February, the Sika Foundation submitted a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) proposal for Sika deer in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks to the Minister of Hunting & Fishing, James Meager, who announced the beginning of the next phase, a statutory process, on April 4.

“We are grateful to the Department of Conservation and the Game Animal Council for supporting us through the proposal development process, and we now look forward to engaging with Mana Whenua that are directly connected to this kaupapa. The next step is to navigate the public consultation process around a Sika Herd Management Plan to benefit both conservation and recreational hunting,” Speedy says.

The Sika Foundation is confident that a Sika HOSI designation will enable more tangible deer management, better hunting experiences, and food from a quality environment for whānau and communities, through recognising the cultural values held by Mana Whenua, together with values around conservation, community and recreation.

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