Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager has appointed Lisa Chase and Simon Cameron to the Game Animal Council (GAC) for one-year terms beginning on 1 October 2026.
The appointments follow the designation of New Zealand’s first two Herds of Special Interest (HOSI), covering Fiordland wapiti and sika deer in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks.
Chase is a trustee of Tūwharetoa-owned Waihi Pukawa Trust, which operates a large deer farm, and previously served as a trustee of the Owhaoko B&D Trust, which has hunting interests within the sika range. Cameron has held governance positions with Federated Farmers, including West Coast provincial president, and has professional hunting and guiding experience.
Meager said Chase would help connect the GAC with communities involved in management of the sika herd, while Cameron would focus on cooperation between farmers and hunters, hunting access and deer population management.
The appointments are part of a series of changes to the GAC’s governance, with former deputy prime minister Paula Bennett and meat industry figure Jim Goodall also recently appointed to the council. Existing councillor and Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke has been appointed GAC chair.
