The New Zealand Tahr Foundation is excited to announce its next step in the journey to a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) for Tahr. This has been a core goal since inception in 2016, following the establishment of the Game Animal Council Act 2013.
HOSI is a legislative tool under the Game Animal Council Act. As such, the NZTF is working with the Game Animal Council (GAC) to investigate options for a Tahr HOSI. This preliminary stage will be examining the potential scope of a HOSI for Tahr, identifying barriers and concerns, engaging with iwi, and working with others to prepare a HOSI concept document. This will be to establish:
a) why Tahr are of special interest in New Zealand.
b) how Tahr can be managed to balance hunting resource with maintaining a healthy alpine environment.
NZTF has contracted an expert group comprising of Dr Ken Hughey, Dr Graham Nugent, Dr Geoff Kerr and Garry Ottmann to assist us in this preparatory stage. We are eager to leverage this team’s extensive experience in game animal management, legislation and science to set a solid foundation for a possible Tahr HOSI and how we might improve from the outdated and controversial 1993 Himalayan Thar Control Plan.
A HOSI for tahr designates them a game animal, under the Game Animal Council Act, within the boundaries of the HOSI. This provides for more nuanced management that balances hunting outcomes with environmental needs.
To learn more about HOSI’s and the process, check out the GAC website - www.nzgac.org.nz/herds-of-special-interest
The NZTF thanks our members and the GAC for their support as we embark on our most involved project yet, one with roots nearly ten years old. These are exciting times for sensible game animal management in NZ.
