Seen on Facebook (Real New Zealand News)
The Department of Contamination (DOC) have poisoned 97% of White Tail deer using Fluoride based 1080 poison on Stewart Island. The “predator” control operation on Stewart Island also resulted in a 75% by kill of deer even where deer repellent was applied.
The operation was carried out across 43,100 hectares as part of ‘Predator Free Rakiura’ to protect the endangered pukunui (southern New Zealand dotterel).
While predator numbers were reduced, the by-kill on deer has been devastating.
NZ Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA) has been advocating for the Stewart Island/Rakiura whitetail to be named a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI), and calls for this to be actioned immediately. This status must be in place to protect this herd of significant value.
The NZDA 2025 Membership Survey found that members value the whitetail herds just as highly as wapiti and sika herds.
We here at The Real New Zealand News also call for the Maori name of DOC – te papa atawhai, to be changed to something more fitting such as Ngaarara Whakapaitini Taiao – Monsters that Poison the Environment. Nga Mihinui thank you for your attention to this matter.
The Stewart Island/Rakiura white-tailed deer herd is:
DOC is clearly out of control and they are public servants!
Stewart Island’s economy has taken a big body blow. Locals must be fuming.
DOC I suspect will be grinning over dead deer?
For the local Stewart Island economy, that’s devastating without hunters booking flights, water taxis, accommodation, and buying fuel, food, and gear.
But what about the dead deer that underwent a slow, convulsing, agonising death.
DOC, have you a heart?
Shame on you.
This is so appalling that, just for once, words fail me.
I was at the Island when Gareth Morgan spoke of how when the Island was predator free the place would be overrun by birds and tourists wanting to look at them after 1080 poisoning of all the predators what a bloody dreamer.
The DoC don’t care about poisoning deer they will be more than happy of the high mortality. Experiments on the Islnd in the past on the for different methods of poisoning them have been carried out including painting broadleaf leaves with 1080 gel. It would seem that aerial distribution of toxic cereal baits is the answer for DoC
Hunters would contribute considerably more to the Island in the off peak tourism
I am looking to challenge DOC on the issue of animal welfare. Please help. go to https://peoplesinquiry.nz/index.php/fundraising-campaign/
If there was over 90 percent deer killed, has anyone done the bird numbers yet. The southern dotterel has probably been wiped off the face of the earth. The only predators around are the humans. We are the ones tinkering with nature and getting it so very wrong. Department of somethings that begins with C the reason why the kea are so endangered
So DoC is now the biggest cruel killer in NZ – all those deer dying an agonising death over 24 hours or more! And what happens to the rotting carcasses? Shame upon you and all those 1080 lovers!
Native birds who inevitably get caught up in this 1080 drop will also die a cruel death.