I’m Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata from Tairāwhiti, Tūranganui-a-Kiwa; I was born in Gisborne and grew up around the forests of Te Urewera and the Raukūmara ranges. Like many from the East Coast, I come from a long line of hunter-gatherers. My father, grandfather and uncles were my early inspirations and taught me about the ocean, rivers, lakes and ngahere (forest).

Some of my best memories from my younger days are hunting pigs on horseback, dogs in tow; I still think about those missions. The horses, the dogs, the laughter, the hard work, the places we explored and the situations we got ourselves into. That, to me, is what hunting really is.

Those early years shaped my views not only on hunting but also on life, especially when it comes to learning. Even now, four decades on, I’m still learning; hunting is a lifelong apprenticeship.

These days, I mainly hunt deer, though I’ll admit it’s tough to walk past 90-100lb of East Coast pork, or wild cattle. But the main thing for me now is wellbeing – resetting on the hill, connecting to whenua (land), and spending time with mates, cousins and whānau (family). Hunting keeps me grounded, healthy and the pantry full.

Feeding others is a big part of why I hunt. Providing kai for whānau, friends and neighbours brings a sense of satisfaction. Passing skills on to the next generation of hunters is similarly rewarding. Encouraging new hunters, teaching safe practices and showing them that hunting is not just about pulling the trigger; there’s so much more to it than that.

Joining the Game Animal Council

My involvement with the Game Animal Council (GAC) began through volunteer work on a hunter-led conservation project in the southern Raukūmara. I manage the ROMA project (Raukumara Opportunities for Mahinga Kai) for the Mangaotane Farm Trust, which focuses on protecting native species and connecting people to whenua through mahinga kai (food gathering). Through this work, I was approached to consider standing for the GAC. I did my homework, put my name forward and the rest is history.

My goal as a council member is simple: contribute what I can, while I can, to improve game animal management – lower numbers where needed, resulting in healthier animals, better outcomes for the environment and better outcomes for the community. Politics change, governments change, but good management needs continuity. The challenge is gaining sufficient time to allow the plans the GAC and other entities have worked on to run their course and get results.

Challenges and Opportunities

One challenge is ensuring hunters are recognised as conservationists. Removing animals reduces browsing pressure, helps native flora regenerate and improves herd quality. Across the country, hunters and clubs are doing incredible mahi, from pest control to trapping to herd management. The Sika Foundation, Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, NZDA, ROMA, Eastern Whio Link – these groups prove what hunter-led conservation looks like.

The government will never have enough funding to do everything, and when you look at health, education, housing, etc., there are plenty of demands on our tax dollars. A collaborative, community-led approach to conservation is the only way forward.

Advice for New Hunters

Use every tool available to you to learn. Books, videos, magazines, mates and the free Better Hunting platform at betterhunting.nz. Join your local NZDA or pig-hunting club. Also, ensure you’re fit. Hunting is more enjoyable when you can get up and down the hills easily. Fitness also helps when you have to carry 50 kilos of meat out of the backcountry.

Finally, whatever you do, be part of the solution, not the problem.

Noho ora mai.