At the Rakiura Whitetail Trust, we believe in balance.
Hunting heritage and ecological responsibility can work hand in hand.
The whitetail deer of Rakiura have been part of the island for more than a hundred years. Over that time, they have become a distinct herd, shaped by the island’s isolation, harsh weather, and their own adaptation to the islan
The Department of Conservation is conducting a 1080 poisoning trial on Stewart Island, known as the Pukunui project. If this trial effectively eliminates predators in the region, the method could be expanded to cover much of the island with 1080 drops. The project could continue on a long-term basis, with additional applications potentially taking place in the future.
Whitetail deer are highly susceptible to 1080 poison, and continued use of 1080 on Stewart Island could potentially eliminate the entire whitetail population there.
The Rakiura Whitetail Trust is awaiting the trail camera deer repellent project results undertaken by Doc and Zip. A grid comprising eighty cameras was installed in the area where 1080 was deployed. Eighty cameras were installed in the area treated with 1080 and deer repellent, while another eighty cameras were placed in the adjacent area where 1080 was not applied.
We expected to have these results prior to Christmas 2025, but we are still waiting. Agree with or disagree with deer repellent these results will have a springboard effect it allows us into the debate.
At the same time, we also need to determine how best to manage Whitetail on Stewart Island. There is so much proper gander floating around re Whitetail numbers on the Island. Stewart Island hunters and their experience tell us that in some areas there are extremely small numbers, and, in other areas, there are high numbers.
What is the truth and how do we understand this better? We need to understand it to manage it.
The Rakiura Whitetail trust is working with the Game Animal Council, NZDA and along with other experts in the deer management sector.
We are under no illusions that it will be simple, we will need to be innovative in finding a solution. But Stewart Island is an exciting project to be involved with.
If we want to hunt deer in NZ in the future we will need to learn and evolve. Evolution happens out of survival and makes no bones about its Whitetail are in for the fight for their life.
All this is going to take time.
The Trust works with the Game Animal Council, New Zealand Deerstalkers and well as other sector groups and leaders and the Department of Conservation, independent scientists, to ensure the work is robust and practical.
These partnerships combine academic expertise with field knowledge gathered from decades of hunter experience.
By working together, we can create a better understanding of Rakiura’s ecosystem and find management approaches that protect both biodiversity and the future of the herd.
We are going to need to do new research to try and fill long-standing gaps in knowledge.
Understanding these influences helps ensure that any future management decisions are based on facts, not assumptions.
The goal is to make sure decisions about Rakiura’s whitetail herd are informed, transparent, and respectful of both the environment and the hunting community that values it.
Life on Rakiura
A glimpse into the island, its whitetail deer, and our conservation work.
