Calls for Change in Australia After New Zealand Donates 12 Tonnes of Venison to the Needy

Calls for Change in Australia After New Zealand Donates 12 Tonnes of Venison to the Needy A New Zealand hunting charity has donated nearly 12 tonnes of venison — more than 93,000 meals — to food banks in 2025. The initiative has sparked calls for Australia, particularly Tasmania, to reform game meat laws and allow hunters to provide wild venison to families in need. 🥩 New Zealand’s Venison Donation Success A hunting charity in New Zealand has achieved a remarkable milestone, donating 11,600 kilograms of wild‑harvested venison to community kitchens and food banks in 2025. The organisation, Hunters4Hope, based in North Canterbury on the South Island, has so far provided the equivalent of 93,000 meal portions of protein to people struggling with food insecurity. The program works by encouraging hunters to donate animals they harvest. The charity then arranges for the meat to be professionally butchered, processed, and distributed to food banks across the country. Calls for Similar Action in Australia The success of Hunters4Hope has prompted shooting and hunting organisations in Tasmania to call for similar reforms in Australia. Both the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Tasmania and Shooters Union Tasmania argue that the model should be replicated locally, especially as the state grapples with a rapidly growing feral deer population. Currently, Tasmanian law prohibits hunters from selling or even giving away wild‑harvested venison. As a result, deer culled in government‑sanctioned control programs are often left to rot, despite the fact that thousands of Tasmanian families face food insecurity. ⚠️ Anger Over Wasteful Culling The hunting community has expressed frustration at the state’s reliance on professional shooters and the controversial use of 1080 poison to manage deer numbers. Critics argue that these methods are not only wasteful but also used as justification to deny the expansion of recreational hunting and volunteer pest control. Hunters insist that the venison could instead be processed and donated to food charities, turning a pest management challenge into a community benefit. 🗣️ Shooters Union Tasmania Speaks Out Phillip Bigg, president of Shooters Union Tasmania, described the state’s current approach to deer management as a “disgrace.” He accused the government of relying on unreliable population figures and creating “safe havens” where deer breed unchecked, causing significant damage to agriculture. Bigg argued that Tasmania should follow New Zealand’s example: “Game meat regulations need immediate attention so farmers, contract shooters and hunters can help those with food insecurity put food on the table. Through human history we have survived on game meat — why, all of a sudden, is it not safe?” He added that it was unacceptable to hear about starving children and struggling food charities while tonnes of venison are wasted each year. 🌿 Hunters as Conservationists Supporters of reform stress that hunters are not only sportsmen but also conservationists and community partners. By donating venison, hunters could reduce the environmental impact of feral deer, support farmers, and provide a valuable protein source to vulnerable families. Bigg concluded: “Hunters are the solution — we are true conservationists, caring for our lands and our neighbours. Let’s do better for everyone.” 🔑 Conclusion: A Chance for Tasmania to Lead The 11,600 kilograms of venison donated in New Zealand in 2025 has shown what is possible when hunting, conservation, and community needs align. For Tasmania, where deer numbers are rising and food insecurity remains a pressing issue, the case for reform is stronger than ever. By changing outdated game meat laws, the state could transform a pest management problem into a sustainable food solution, ensuring that no animal is wasted and no family goes hungry.