Other ongoing activities

DOC has a dedicated Northern North Island Deer Co-ordinator to concentrate efforts on deer farm management within Taitokerau/Northland. Together with NRC (and specialist contractors where applicable), these activities include:

  • Ongoing management to ensure all registered deer farms in Northland maintain compliance with their permits
  • Any known properties currently holding deer without a permit are brought within the system or 'destocked' (the animals removed from the farm)
  • Previously-registered deer farm locations are also inspected – any properties found holding deer without a permit are either brought within the system, or destocked
  • Surveillance with thermal drones during the annual roar season (deer mating season, when stags are less wary of human presence and hinds are moving about) outside the boundaries of deer farms where escapes have previously taken place. Escaped deer may return to the farm during this time
  • Collaborative work with Auckland Council and DOC Auckland on complementary management of wild deer populations. 
Related information