New Zealand Game Animal Council

What New Zealand Game Animal Council does

The New Zealand Game Animal Council (GAC) is a statutory body established under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, making it the only legislation in New Zealand that recognizes game animals as valued introduced species. The organization operates as a national policy, advocacy, and education body on behalf of New Zealand's licensed recreational hunters, hunting sector organizations (NZ Deerstalkers Association, Sika Foundation, Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, NZ Tahr Foundation, NZ Pighunting Association, Heritage Red Deer Foundation, NZ Professional Hunting Guides Association), and increasingly foodbanks. Its primary mandate is sustainable game animal management, hunter education, and representation of hunter interests in conservation legislation.

The GAC's core digital products are two free platforms: Better Hunting (an online hunter education and training system with modules covering hunting essentials, firearm safety, pig hunting, tahr ballot briefing, and a 2026 international hunter module, plus an integrated multi-map hunt planning tool and trip intentions form) and Hunt and Share (a voluntary traceability and food-safety platform that links hunters, butchers, and foodbanks for wild game meat donation, built with MPI guidance). The platforms are integrated with external mapping, weather, and visualization tools (Windy, Ventusky, ShadeMap, neu0, topomap.co.nz, DOC maps).

Revenue is generated through government appropriations as a statutory body plus public donations; all services and platforms are offered free of charge. The GAC has a small staff of approximately 12, operates from Wellington, and is governed by a Council appointed by the Minister for Hunting and Fishing. Its 2026 strategic milestones include the passage of the HOSI Amendment Act, the designation of New Zealand's first two Herds of Special Interest (Wapiti and Sika), and a leadership refresh that added a new Chair and three new Council members.

Name

New Zealand Game Animal Council

Legal name

New Zealand Game Animal Council

Website

https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New Zealand Game Animal Council is a statutory body that provides hunter education, advocates for sustainable game animal management, and operates free platforms — Better Hunting (training) and Hunt and Share (meat donation traceability) — serving licensed recreational hunters, hunting sector organizations, and 112 foodbanks across New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Hunting Policy Services

NAICS

Hunting and Trapping (114210), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Animal Welfare Regulation & Enforcement (HLAMAJAG)

Keywords

• Game animal management
• Hunter education
• Wild game meat donation
• Hunting policy advocacy
• Statutory body services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a statutory body established under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, the GAC operates primarily through government funding and appropriations.
2. Donations: Accepts donations from the public to support education initiatives, research, and sustainable game animal management. High-value donations over $1,000 can be directed to specific initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The NZ Game Animal Council is a statutory body that provides leadership, policy advice, and practical tools to support sustainable game animal management in New Zealand. It operates the free Better Hunting online education platform offering hunter training modules and hunt planning tools, and the Hunt and Share traceability platform facilitating wild game meat donations from hunters to foodbanks. It also administers the Herds of Special Interest (HOSI) framework, the only legal mechanism recognizing game animals as valued introduced species.

Product overview

New Zealand Game Animal Council operates primarily as a regulatory and advocacy body rather than a technology product company. Its main digital offerings include the Better Hunting online education platform and the Hunt and Share meat donation platform. Better Hunting is a free online hunter education platform providing training modules (Hunting Essentials, Firearm Essentials, Pig Hunting, Tahr Ballot Briefing, International Hunter module), hunt planning tools (multi-map tool, intentions form, pesticide information tool), and resources. Hunt and Share is a free voluntary online platform providing traceability and food-safety support for wild game meat donation. Both platforms are offered at no cost to users and are designed to support sustainable hunting practices and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Better Hunting: Online hunter education platform providing training modules, resources, and safety information for hunters.
• Hunt and Share
• Game Changer NZ

Products and services

• Better Hunting Free online hunter education and training platform providing modules, hunt planning tools, and resources for New Zealand hunters. Includes training courses (Hunting Essentials, Firearm Essentials, Introduction to Pig Hunting, Tahr Ballot Briefing, Welcome to Hunting in New Zealand), an integrated multi-map tool linking to NZ mapping and weather services, trip intentions form, and a pesticide information tool.
• Hunt and Share Free voluntary online platform providing traceability and food-safety support for wild game meat donation initiatives. Includes a guidebook for donation organisers, an online knowledge check for hunters, a meat donation record database, and labelling tools for tracking donated meat from harvest to consumer. For hunters, butchers, and foodbanks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 112 foodbanks supported with wild game meat donations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wild Game Recovery TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Joint initiative Game Changer NZ launched to increase wild game meat donations to foodbanks. Wild Game Recovery Trust leads the initiative while GAC supports using their Hunt and Share platform. Wayne Langford is Founder and Chair. Trust coordinates hunters, butchers, and foodbanks while raising funds to cover processing costs.
• Central North Island Sika FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on Sika Herd of Special Interest proposal. Foundation prepared HOSI application and works with GAC on herd management. Joint statement on Sika HOSI designation in July 2026.
• Fiordland Wapiti FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025More than two years of collaboration on Wapiti Herd of Special Interest proposal. Foundation prepared HOSI application, manages ballot blocks, and contributes to wild deer management. Generates $1.3 million annually for Te Anau economy.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreOthersDOC supports drafting HOSI herd management plans and runs the public consultation process. Also manages tahr ballot blocks, Molesworth Recreation Reserve, and other conservation land where hunting occurs.
• Fish & Game New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Corina Jordan is seconded as CEO of both organizations for 12 months from September 2025. Both organizations share values and resources to progress legislative reforms and game animal management initiatives.
• NZ Deerstalkers AssociationcoreOthersKey hunting sector organization. Council member Callum Sheridan is President of NZDA. GAC staff present at NZDA Conference. Collaboration on hunter education and sector representation.
• Foodbanks (via Game Changer NZ)minorOthers112 foodbanks nationwide receive wild game meat donations through the Hunt and Share platform and Game Changer NZ initiative. Includes 61 Salvation Army foodbanks.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Quality Deer Management Association: US nonprofit promoting sustainable deer herd management through hunter-led conservation. Comparable to GAC in promoting community-led game animal management frameworks, though focused exclusively on deer species across North America.
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: US conservation organization focused on elk and elk habitat conservation. Shares GAC's mission of conserving game animal populations and their habitats while supporting hunter access, though at much larger scale and with a fundraising-driven model.
• Department of Conservation (DOC): New Zealand government agency managing public conservation land. DOC partners with GAC on HOSI herd management plans, manages tahr ballot blocks and hunting areas, and supports the public consultation process, making it a direct government counterpart in wildlife management.
• Boone and Crockett Club: North American wildlife conservation organization promoting fair chase hunting and game animal management. Comparable to GAC in its dual mission of advocating for hunters and promoting scientific wildlife management, though focused on North American big game species.
• Wildlife Management Institute: US-based nonprofit dedicated to professional wildlife management and policy. Shares GAC's focus on sustainable wildlife management, hunter education, and conservation policy advocacy, though operating at larger scale across multiple US states.
• Safari Club International: International hunting advocacy and conservation organization. SCI operates globally with similar hunter education, wildlife management policy advocacy, and conservation funding functions to GAC, but at much larger scale across multiple countries.

Direct peers

• NZ Deerstalkers Association: New Zealand hunting sector organization representing deerstalkers and game animal interests. The GAC's Council includes NZDA President Callum Sheridan, and the two organizations collaborate on hunter education, sector representation, and policy advocacy for game animal management.
• Fish & Game New Zealand: New Zealand statutory body managing freshwater sports fishing and game bird hunting, sharing the same CEO under a 12-month secondment arrangement with GAC. Both organizations collaborate on legislative reforms and game animal management, making them the closest peer in mission, structure, and operational scope.

Emerging players

• Fiordland Wapiti Foundation: New Zealand foundation managing the Fiordland wapiti herd, contributing $1.3 million NZD annually to the Te Anau economy. Partnered with GAC for over two years on the Wapiti HOSI proposal, sharing a focused game animal management mandate in a specific region.
• Wild Game Recovery Trust: New Zealand charitable trust that leads the Game Changer NZ wild game meat donation initiative, partnering with GAC's Hunt and Share platform. Operates in the same meat donation and food security space with a complementary but narrower mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nzgameanimalcouncil4936/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/nzgameanimal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nz-game-animal-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/nzgac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Zealand Game Animal Council