DEER INDUSTRY NZ

The deer difference Go to the full The deer difference section >>
The deer difference

Deer are a rich part of folklore in many cultures. Their unique products have long had an elite status as healthy foods and natural medicines. Our farmers are innovative, skilled and resourceful -- and most importantly, passionate about the deer difference.

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Deer Industry New Zealand Go to the full Deer Industry New Zealand section >>
Deer Industry New Zealand

Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) represents and works alongside deer farmers, processors and marketers in New Zealand and in our international markets. This section covers the activities of DINZ and its associates.

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Our great products Go to the full Our great products section >>
Our great products

New Zealand is the world’s largest source of tender, delicious farmed venison – arguably the most nutritious and healthy meat on the market – as well as highly-prized ingredients for modern health foods and traditional Chinese medicines.

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Our stories Go to the full Our stories section >>
Events Go to the full Events section >>
Contact Us Go to the full Contact Us section >>

Velvet Go to the full Velvet section >>
Velvet

Velvet antler is 'the deer antler during its phase of rapid growth', and it gets the name ‘velvet‘ because of its velvet-like covering of hair.

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Breeding Go to the full Breeding section >>
Breeding

Central to successful deer farming in New Zealand is reproduction management. Poor performance in this area can limit farm productivity. Management of fertility, photo-periods (day length), calving and stags all contribute to performance.

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Farm Environment Go to the full Farm Environment section >>
Farm Environment

Learn more about water and soil management, best practice methods to improve biosecurity on farm, and health and safety reminders to minimise risk in your business.

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Feeding Go to the full Feeding section >>
Feeding

Nutrition, both intake and feed quality, has a major impact on productivity, determining reproductive performance, animal health, weaner live weight gain and timing of venison supply.

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Health Go to the full Health section >>
Health

Maintaining good deer health is crucial to production. This section covers the Major issues, Management calendar and Veterinary medicines.

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Welfare Go to the full Welfare section >>
Welfare

Encompases all practices on farm, in shed, right through to transportation. Efficient deer handling, management and facility design is paramount in minimising stress on farm.

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Farm planning Go to the full Farm planning section >>
Support Go to the full Support section >>
Support

Here you can find information about support services in the industry, ranging from educational events, to groups that come together to identify opportunities on farm.

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Research Go to the full Research section >>

Why join the NZDFA? Go to the full Why join the NZDFA? section >>
About Go to the full About section >>
About

The NZDFA was formed in 1975 to assist in maximising sustainable benefits for all deer farmers and to provide a linkage to the agricultural industry and the public.

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Governance Go to the full Governance section >>
Awards Go to the full Awards section >>
Awards

Information about various NZDFA awards such as the Matuschka Award, Life Members and velvet competitions

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NZDFA news Go to the full NZDFA news section >>
Events Go to the full Events section >>
Contact us Go to the full Contact us section >>
NZ Fallow Society Go to the full NZ Fallow Society section >>
NZ Fallow Society

A resource for Fallow Deer farmers. The Fallow Deer Society was established to encourage, educate, and support the farming of Fallow Deer in New Zealand.

Go to the full NZ Fallow Society section >>

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Deer Industry Photo Competition

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Thanks to our sponsors:

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Elk Wapiti category sponsor

2025 First place winner: Leeza-Marie Pratt - Sunset roar

2025 winners

First place: Leeza-Marie Pratt - Sunset roar

Second place: Angela McIntyre - Magnificent 7

Third place: Hunter Jennings - Laying in paddock together

Peoples's Choice: Emma Smith - Hinds in a shape of love heart made from grain

Elk/Wapiti: Tony Pidgeon - Proud

Highly commended: Leora Werner - Hinds and fawns taking off across a paddock into the stormy clouds

Highly commended: Ilka Seebeck - 517

Highly commended: Angela McIntyre - Next generation

Highly commended: Laura Waller - Round 1

2024 winners

1st place: Kristen Rowe - Dundas Creek Stags

2nd place: Sophie Hansen - Mother and fawn

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3rd place: Gordon Murray - Nothing to see here, move on please

People's Choice: Mike Thomas - Make me!

Elk/Waipti Tony Pidgeon - Sunset bull

Highly commended: Sophie Hansen - Motherly love

Highly commended Glenys Travers - Alert

Highly commended: Grant Charteris - The Next Gen!

2023 winners

1st place: Gill Maclean - Curious

2nd place: Sophie Hansen - On a foggy Autumn Waikato morning the stags are roaring

3rd place: Angela McIntyre - Double take

People's Choice: Rowan Larcombe - Big guy rounding up his ladies

Highly commended: Grant Charteris - Mexican standoff

Highly commended: Gill Maclean - On the March

2022 winners

1st place: Ella Hole - Content

2nd place: Iryna Uriupina - Curiosity

3rd place: Neil Murdoch - I'm not meant to be here!

People's choice winner: Glenys Travers - Bums rush

Highly commended: Iryna Uriupina - I'm the boss!

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Highly commended: Angela McIntyre - Earthquake! Drop, cover... Hold on boys!

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Highly commended: Melissa Crawford - Loving attention

2021 Winners

1st place - Ian Buunk, Who's the boss

2nd place - Jessica McKenzie, Boys at play

3rd place - Richard Hilson, Scratch that itch

People's Choice award - Mia Birt, Steamy weaners

Highly commended - Sandra Stevens, Hinds with Mt Titiroa in background

Highly commended - Ian Buunk, Best of friends

Highly commended - Jenny McMurdo, Frosty morning sunrise bringing in the girls

Highly commended - Denise Pawsey, There's plenty up here

2020 Winners

1st place - Steve Couper, Big dog

2nd place - Grant Charteris, Lineout

3rd place - Steve Couper, Sunset Silouette

People's Choice Award - Kristil Leslie, Say cheese from Grinny 258

Highly commended - Abbie Eaton, Frosty fawns (Haldon station)

Highly commended - Angela McIntyre, Listen, it's a drought breaker

Highly commended - Denise Pawsey, We are just coming

Highly commended - Shaye Wotherspoon, Wild Neighbours

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Deer Industry New Zealand

PO Box 10702, Wellington 6140
Level 4, Wellington Chambers, 154 Featherston Street, Wellington

info@deernz.org
04 473 4500

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Not a paid NZDFA member? To become a member of the NZDFA, phone 04 453 4500 or email info@deernz.org

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Contact information

Level 5, Wellington Chambers, 154 Featherston Street, Wellington
04 453 4500
info@deernz.org
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