In South Canterbury the mornings in particular have chilled off fast, although we are still getting some good days in between rain. The temperature has bought the stags on fast, so hopefully combined with good feed and well-conditioned hinds we are due for a nice early conception.

Seeka, our new AI-powered knowledge tool, is now available for use on the Deer Hub section of the DINZ website. Seeka is designed to put decades of deer research right at farmers’ fingertips. 

NZDFA Matuschka Award  Deer Industry Award  MSD/Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition  Industry Conference 2026: 13 and 14 May - save the dates New DINZ podcast features DRL Thank-you to Farmers (Bill Symons) Jokes of the month North Island farmers - is Deer Select for you? Deer Industry News - Advertise with us Kellogg programme Applications open 

Staying in the upper North Island and following closely from Matawai Deer Park’s field day is a Waikato branch initiative – the Big Tick Day Out – on Friday 24 April.

This year’s Bayonet Rising Stars marked the fourth year that Waipa has hosted the competition, back at the Te Awamutu racecourse.

Rising Stars 2026 | Enviro Field Day | Big Tick Day Out | Next Generation 2026 | Seeka Now Available | Notice Board |

6 and 7 August 2026 – save the dates!

Executive Committee Report: Karen Middelberg | NZDFA Vacancies – Your Association Needs You! | Deer2Succeed – Otago style | Next Generation 2026 | Velvet Grading Guidelines panel – DFA reps | Noticeboard and events

Greetings from an unseasonably green Hawkes Bay.

Positions on the NZDFA Executive Committee and Selection and Appointments Panel, and the Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) Board are now open for nominations.

Another Deer2Succeed DFA field day was held at the beginning of this week in glorious Otago sunshine at the AgResearch Invermay Research Centre (now known as the Bioeconomy Science Institute, or BSI).

6 and 7 August 2026 – save the dates!

With the current velveting season coming to an end, DINZ will be facilitating a Velvet Grading Guidelines panel with a view to the next season. The panel will be comprised of velvet buyers, velvet processors, DINZ and NZDFA representatives.

NZDFA Matuschka Award | Deer Industry Award | MSD/Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition | Industry Conference 2026: 13 and 14 May - save the dates