Hunters and volunteers as conservation partners, less Wellington control
ACT wants hunters and community groups to take a bigger role in managing game animals and doing conservation work on public land. They say DOC should keep its broader conservation role, but local people who know the land should get more authority and funding to do the work. ACT also wants to make it easier to access public land and protect people's right to hunt lawfully.
What they say they'll do
Put hunters in charge of game-animal management within conservation limits
Provide authority and funding to volunteers and community groups doing conservation work
Improve access to public (backcountry) land
Protect lawful hunting from interference
Retain DOC's broader conservation role alongside community-led management
Who this affects
Hunters and outdoor recreationalists
Hunters would take on a formal management role for game animals and have greater access to public backcountry land, with their lawful activities protected.
Conservation volunteers and community groups
Community groups already doing conservation work on the ground would receive more authority and funding to continue that work.
In their own words
“Hunters are already managing game animals, controlling predators and helping to keep huts and tracks in use. They should be treated as conservation partners, not a problem to be managed from Wellington.”
“ACT will put hunters in charge of game-animal management within firm conservation limits.”
“when hunters and community groups know the country, understand the animals and can deliver the work, they should have the authority and funding to get on with it.”
Summarised neutrally from ACT’s own official policy (as at 2026-08-23) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Environment →