July 13, 2026 • 9 mins
Roy Sloan looks at a positive announcement that occurred recently regarding Fiordland Wapiti.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This says the muster on Hakanui.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Roy Slane joins us next, I meant to stay in
the base and used today with jordan Way being designated
New Zealand's first Herald of Special Interest or hosey as
being the acronym now. Roy Sloane is a general manager
of the Fjordland Wappadi Foundation and joins this afternoon to
put into context what this all means.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Roy, Welcome to the muster house. Eggs.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Yeah, good, thank you, good on a good rainy. It's
it's it's winter.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
It's winter, that's what it's about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
It really might be cold outside, but there's a few
warm cockled hearts out there due to this announcement yesterday
regarding for Jordland Wappaty. From your perspective, what does this mean?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean it's a and I guess to put
it into perspective, you know, this is the first bit
of legislation that's ever been put in New Zealand for
managing deer. With lott legislations around killing deer, we don't
have any around managing dere so this is the first
in the history of this country.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So to big day deer numbers are concerned in the basin.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, I mean deer like everything. You know, it's it's
not about the deer, it's about the numbers are deare
And certainly there's certainly deer running around back of stations,
back of farms. But you to look at for Field
and National Park one point two million heat, there is
there's certainly in areas there's over populations a deer due
(01:34):
to how expensive it is to manage deer. And Field
Distric Park for the whopping, the area where we managed
the two hundred thousand heats, the numbers there are lower
than the rest of the park as due to management
we've undertaken there.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So yeah, I mean numbers when you're looking at the
size of lands like that. A couple of hundred thousand
hicks here is for goodness sake, it's a case of
rome wasn't built.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
In a day.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Now, I mean a couple hundred thousand hectis that's based
on flat hectics, and you know we're talking about c
level to five and a half thousand feet, so it's
probably triple that. And certainly rain wasn't built in a day.
But we've been at this for twenty five years, so
We've been managing there and the for twenty five years,
and it's recognized internationally. It's probably the best private not private,
(02:26):
hunter led conservation project on the planet. So this is
not new. The legislation is new.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Why would you say it's taken so long for it
to be recognized.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We're kind of been left alone to doing our business,
you know, as I been gone for twenty five years,
so we've been needed legislation. People have recognized, people in
the right space, have recognized the work that we've done
and supported that work that we've done. But all of
a sudden, we have we have a group of people
(02:56):
who challenge the legalities of what we do and forced
a very expensive lobbying projects to get a legislation change
to support what we do. So really, really, that's the
basis of it. We had a legal challenge from a
(03:17):
group of people who made us go out and lobby
the government to change the law to enable us continue
what we're doing. And we're doing the same as what
we did yesterday as we are today. And it was
just a big waste of money, a big waste of time.
But here we are.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Is that forrest and bird you're referring.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
To as far as some bird I'm referring to.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yes, yeah, just quickly I read what they're saying about
it here.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Farrest and Bird are strongly opposing the decision, arguing that
introduced browsing pests should be eradicated from national parks rather
than granted legislative protections, and they worry that prioritizing hunting
values could ultimately undermine native native ecosystems.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
What do you make of that?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Skin mongering? It's it's what they what they've bought their
empire on, is scare mongering, and it's a pretty pretty
sad existence, to be fair. If you look at the legislation,
this legislation of herds of special interest. If if the
green sector truly believed that deer are doing the demons
that they're doing and need to do something about it,
(04:21):
they would be supporting sleitulation. Because what means is that
we ever heard in deer that are heard of deer
and field, and that's been managed by hunters and no
expense to this government. You know, we we just don't
manage it as hunters. We actually professionally manage it with helicopters,
reducing their numbers to a point that that protects their
(04:42):
natural by diversity of the area. And what I heard
of special interests means that all of a sudden that
herd has more scrutiny than any other deer heard in
New Zealand. So in the history of this country, Wapiti
now have more scrutiny any dear that's on this the
land of New Zealand. And Jimmy, it's bad for conservation.
(05:05):
Actually it's not. It's good for conservation.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Having in fascinating Minister James Mega is saying they'll be
strong environments are over sight of regular monitoring, ecological targets
and reporting as well as a review every five years.
Docs on board, local EV's on board as well. So
it sounds that a lot of boxes have been tacked
regarding it.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, a lot of boxes. They have been tacked. And
you know, if you look at their job and you know,
we've changed the management space in New Zealand, we've changed
the management space on this planet in it that's what
really has been recognized. And if you if you look
at that forest and bird or a green seat, who
(05:47):
who believe that we shouldn't have any introduced species on
this planet? In fact, I think I hear them say
that we want New Zealand back pre human. So that's
that's a quite a quite a big call. That's achievable.
But what we're doing is actually realistic. It's managing the
impacts of the infield and it's measurable. So at this
(06:11):
best we've got Roy.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
How would you describe the state of biodiversity in field
the National Park?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, I mean he's a good one people should talk about.
Is that if you look at we've got one point
two million heats in there. That's flat head. It's a
massive bit of country. And you know, we just had
thirty international biologists down here shown them what we do,
and there are gobs back about undertaking management in that country.
(06:40):
But the point being what I'm saying is that if
you look at a field and outside the Whopping area,
it's in a bad state of affairs. The numbers are
really really poor. But in the Whopping area there's more
to get shot in that two hundred thousand heats than
the rest million put together. I mean, you look at
(07:02):
the Wappi Foundation, we're looking at a project called the
Field and Project. We want to build some plants, you
know now, so we can actually take a good work
outside the whopping area and that's hunted lead. So I
think Forrest and Brew want to do a little bit
of work they should do. Notice some money to build
that be some plant the best thing they could do.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
It's a bit of a shame that venison plant closed
down in Mosburn a few years ago.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, when we've looked at that too, and it's we
used to send here there, but there's a big, big
white elephant there now. So you know when we're looking
at the modern one, we've got already raised two point
eight million dollars towards that. And so let's hunter lead
conservation for you. And no one else is standing up
(07:47):
and trying to fix the problem in fjording. So the
Wappi Foundation hunters are really probably the ones who are
putting their hand on their heart and actually acknowledging that
there is problems out there and trying to do something
about it.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
So where would you hope to have these venison works
up and running, Roy, Do you have a day's in mind?
Speaker 1 (08:03):
By chance?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
There we own a section, we've got a building permit
through and we want it to be a community project.
So we're really we're over thirty businesses in New Zealand
who are supporting it. So the whole thing's going to
it's a charitable trust, so the whole thing's going to
be funded through sponsorship and funding. So we've almost got
(08:26):
all the materials in the labor to build the place.
We're at the end of this month. We're about to
go on to do a crowdfunding project in a goal
there is to raise a million dollars for and hopefully
we're building before the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Good on, roy thanks for your time. Congratulations, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Royce Sloane there, general manager of Fjordland Wapady Foundation. You're
listening to the Master Up Next, we're across the road
here from Hakanui HQ.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
We catch up with Darren Moyles starting dan Stockfood
This says the muster on Hakanui.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Roy Slane joins us next, I meant to stay in
the base and used today with jordan Way being designated
New Zealand's first Herald of Special Interest or hosey as
being the acronym now. Roy Sloane is a general manager
of the Fjordland Wappadi Foundation and joins this afternoon to
put into context what this all means.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Roy, Welcome to the muster house. Eggs.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Yeah, good, thank you, good on a good rainy. It's
it's it's winter.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
It's winter, that's what it's about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
It really might be cold outside, but there's a few
warm cockled hearts out there due to this announcement yesterday
regarding for Jordland Wappaty. From your perspective, what does this mean?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean it's a and I guess to put
it into perspective, you know, this is the first bit
of legislation that's ever been put in New Zealand for
managing deer. With lott legislations around killing deer, we don't
have any around managing dere so this is the first
in the history of this country.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So to big day deer numbers are concerned in the basin.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, I mean deer like everything. You know, it's it's
not about the deer, it's about the numbers are deare
And certainly there's certainly deer running around back of stations,
back of farms. But you to look at for Field
and National Park one point two million heat, there is
there's certainly in areas there's over populations a deer due
(01:34):
to how expensive it is to manage deer. And Field
Distric Park for the whopping, the area where we managed
the two hundred thousand heats, the numbers there are lower
than the rest of the park as due to management
we've undertaken there.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
So yeah, I mean numbers when you're looking at the
size of lands like that. A couple of hundred thousand
hicks here is for goodness sake, it's a case of
rome wasn't built.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
In a day.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Now, I mean a couple hundred thousand hectis that's based
on flat hectics, and you know we're talking about c
level to five and a half thousand feet, so it's
probably triple that. And certainly rain wasn't built in a day.
But we've been at this for twenty five years, so
We've been managing there and the for twenty five years,
and it's recognized internationally. It's probably the best private not private,
(02:26):
hunter led conservation project on the planet. So this is
not new. The legislation is new.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Why would you say it's taken so long for it
to be recognized.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We're kind of been left alone to doing our business,
you know, as I been gone for twenty five years,
so we've been needed legislation. People have recognized, people in
the right space, have recognized the work that we've done
and supported that work that we've done. But all of
a sudden, we have we have a group of people
(02:56):
who challenge the legalities of what we do and forced
a very expensive lobbying projects to get a legislation change
to support what we do. So really, really, that's the
basis of it. We had a legal challenge from a
(03:17):
group of people who made us go out and lobby
the government to change the law to enable us continue
what we're doing. And we're doing the same as what
we did yesterday as we are today. And it was
just a big waste of money, a big waste of time.
But here we are.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Is that forrest and bird you're referring.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
To as far as some bird I'm referring to.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yes, yeah, just quickly I read what they're saying about
it here.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Farrest and Bird are strongly opposing the decision, arguing that
introduced browsing pests should be eradicated from national parks rather
than granted legislative protections, and they worry that prioritizing hunting
values could ultimately undermine native native ecosystems.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
What do you make of that?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Skin mongering? It's it's what they what they've bought their
empire on, is scare mongering, and it's a pretty pretty
sad existence, to be fair. If you look at the legislation,
this legislation of herds of special interest. If if the
green sector truly believed that deer are doing the demons
that they're doing and need to do something about it,
(04:21):
they would be supporting sleitulation. Because what means is that
we ever heard in deer that are heard of deer
and field, and that's been managed by hunters and no
expense to this government. You know, we we just don't
manage it as hunters. We actually professionally manage it with helicopters,
reducing their numbers to a point that that protects their
(04:42):
natural by diversity of the area. And what I heard
of special interests means that all of a sudden that
herd has more scrutiny than any other deer heard in
New Zealand. So in the history of this country, Wapiti
now have more scrutiny any dear that's on this the
land of New Zealand. And Jimmy, it's bad for conservation.
(05:05):
Actually it's not. It's good for conservation.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Having in fascinating Minister James Mega is saying they'll be
strong environments are over sight of regular monitoring, ecological targets
and reporting as well as a review every five years.
Docs on board, local EV's on board as well. So
it sounds that a lot of boxes have been tacked
regarding it.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, a lot of boxes. They have been tacked. And
you know, if you look at their job and you know,
we've changed the management space in New Zealand, we've changed
the management space on this planet in it that's what
really has been recognized. And if you if you look
at that forest and bird or a green seat, who
(05:47):
who believe that we shouldn't have any introduced species on
this planet? In fact, I think I hear them say
that we want New Zealand back pre human. So that's
that's a quite a quite a big call. That's achievable.
But what we're doing is actually realistic. It's managing the
impacts of the infield and it's measurable. So at this
(06:11):
best we've got Roy.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
How would you describe the state of biodiversity in field
the National Park?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, I mean he's a good one people should talk about.
Is that if you look at we've got one point
two million heats in there. That's flat head. It's a
massive bit of country. And you know, we just had
thirty international biologists down here shown them what we do,
and there are gobs back about undertaking management in that country.
(06:40):
But the point being what I'm saying is that if
you look at a field and outside the Whopping area,
it's in a bad state of affairs. The numbers are
really really poor. But in the Whopping area there's more
to get shot in that two hundred thousand heats than
the rest million put together. I mean, you look at
(07:02):
the Wappi Foundation, we're looking at a project called the
Field and Project. We want to build some plants, you
know now, so we can actually take a good work
outside the whopping area and that's hunted lead. So I
think Forrest and Brew want to do a little bit
of work they should do. Notice some money to build
that be some plant the best thing they could do.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
It's a bit of a shame that venison plant closed
down in Mosburn a few years ago.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, when we've looked at that too, and it's we
used to send here there, but there's a big, big
white elephant there now. So you know when we're looking
at the modern one, we've got already raised two point
eight million dollars towards that. And so let's hunter lead
conservation for you. And no one else is standing up
(07:47):
and trying to fix the problem in fjording. So the
Wappi Foundation hunters are really probably the ones who are
putting their hand on their heart and actually acknowledging that
there is problems out there and trying to do something
about it.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
So where would you hope to have these venison works
up and running, Roy, Do you have a day's in mind?
Speaker 1 (08:03):
By chance?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
There we own a section, we've got a building permit
through and we want it to be a community project.
So we're really we're over thirty businesses in New Zealand
who are supporting it. So the whole thing's going to
it's a charitable trust, so the whole thing's going to
be funded through sponsorship and funding. So we've almost got
(08:26):
all the materials in the labor to build the place.
We're at the end of this month. We're about to
go on to do a crowdfunding project in a goal
there is to raise a million dollars for and hopefully
we're building before the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Good on, roy thanks for your time. Congratulations, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Royce Sloane there, general manager of Fjordland Wapady Foundation. You're
listening to the Master Up Next, we're across the road
here from Hakanui HQ.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
We catch up with Darren Moyles starting dan Stockfood
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