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Our big challenge is to lobby to have Wapiti declared a herd of special interests.
This will give Wapiti legal recognition and protection, however, achieving this goal will be challenging.
Do this successfully we must hire lawyers, some of the world’s best ecologists and other
professionals to craft a solid case for a Herd of Special Interest declaration.
A win here will be a win for all game animals, helping to pave the way to protect other game
herds.
It doesn’t matter if you are a hunter, conservationist, native bird enthusiast or a lover of our
outdoors, we need your help to ensure the Foundation’s practical and effective conservation
work can continue.
It’s going to be tough so please give generously to help the foundation navigate the complex challenges ahead.
But thanks to the work of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and its lawyers over the last couple of weeks, Forest and Bird has now temporally suspended that legal action.
Instead, the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, Forest & Bird and DoC will attempt to negotiate a solution that avoids going back to court and instead allows all parties to concentrate on the conservation work that is so important to our wilderness and the creatures that live there.
What that means is we now have a mountain of work to do in a small space of time to find that solution.
We are determined to make sure that any solution ensures wapiti continue to roam their area in Fiordland and that hunters will still be able to experience the thrill of stalking them in the rugged wilderness which is our largest national park.
It doesn’t matter if you are a hunter, conservationist, native bird enthusiast or a lover of our outdoors, we need your help to ensure the Foundation’s practical and effective conservation work can continue.
It’s going to be tough so please give generously to help the foundation navigate the complex legal challenges ahead.
As well as the present legal challenge, we also need to mount a campaign to fight for wapiti to be legally declared a Herd of Special Interest.
At the same time as all this is happening, the Wapiti Foundation also must continue its valuable conservation and deer control work unimpeded.
The Foundation takes this role seriously.
The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation runs an extensive predator trapping programme to suppress the stoats, rats and other pests which threaten to overwhelm our precious taonga such as whio, kiwi and kea.
We maintain tracks and huts so every New Zealander can access Fiordland and enjoy its wilderness.
The Foundation has donated meat from the deer it culls to foodbanks so the needy can benefit from wild, free-range protein.
All this is without cost to the taxpayer, saving the Department of Conservation significant sums of money in these cash-strapped times to spend elsewhere in the vast conservation estate.
The role of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation has never been more crucial and it is determined to protect the wapiti and continue its valuable conservation work unimpeded. But the Wapiti Foundation can’t fight this on its own.
Our big challenge is to lobby to have wapiti declared a herd of special interest.
This will give wapiti legal recognition and protection but achieving this goal will be a complex and challenging mission.
It will require hiring lawyers, some of the world’s best ecologists and other professionals to craft a solid, compelling case for a herd of special interest declaration.
A win will be a win for all game animals and help pave the way to protect other game herds.
It doesn’t matter if you are a hunter, conservationist, native bird enthusiast or a lover of our outdoors, we need your help to ensure the Foundation’s practical and effective conservation work can continue.
It’s going to be tough so please give generously to help the foundation navigate the complex challenges ahead.
Your contribution will bolster our conservation efforts and support our legal battle to safeguard Fiordland’s future.
Amplify our cause within your community to garner further support.
Donate today and support the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation mission, including legal costs and expenses.
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Celebrate wapiti, Fiordland, and the people who care for them.
Wāhine Night – Fri 21 Nov.
Stories, laughs, the 2026 Wildcard Draw, a premiere, plus nibbles and good company.
Live Ballot Draw – Sat 22 Nov.
Dinner, auctions, a guest speaker, and the 2025 ballot drawn live on stage.
Tickets are limited! Don’t miss Fiordland’s biggest weekend.
