New rules to reduce costs for deer farmers

A new approach to the regulation of deer farms will reduce administrative costs for farmers and allow the Department of Conservation to focus its efforts on keeping parts of New Zealand free of wild deer, Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said today.

Ms Chadwick has approved a new Deer Farming Notice, effective from September 5, which sets out where deer farming is allowed and regulates deer farms and safari parks.

The last notice was gazetted in 1986.

Ms Chadwick said the changes recognised that most deer farmers were responsible and there was no longer a need for those in low risk areas to be regulation by DOC.